FoodStream Network
FoodStream is the No#1 Social Network designed specifically for all organizations advocating against food insecurity. Welcome to FoodStream Network.
We believe that hunger is a solvable problem. Our technology provides fast, easy, and essential resources for an incredible network of food-access organizations, community organizations, grassroots leaders, public institutions, emergency food providers, farms, urban farms, community gardens, and restaurants who are transforming the way food moves through our communities — actively improving the health and wealth of their neighborhoods. Our mission is to reimagine the physical, social, racial, and economic health of our communities through smart technology and stronger food-access connections. We are working to end hunger and advocate nutritious food as the most basic human right in the U.S and around the world. What is food insecurity? According to the USDA definition, “food insecurity” is the limited/uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited/uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. Food Bank News estimates that there are at least 371 food bank organizations and 60,000 emergency food providers, such as pantries, agencies and programs, all largely fulfilling the basic role of acquiring perishable or non-perishable food and redistributing it to food-insecure individuals across the U.S. Conversely, the US wastes more than 35% (133 billion pounds) of the food it produces annually. This amount of wasted food is ample enough to feed over 66 million people (an average American eats just under 2,000 pounds each year). Spending on USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs jumped 30% in fiscal year 2020 to an inflation-adjusted record of $122.1 billion, abruptly reversing a six-year decline. However, according to Feeding America, there remains a national food budget shortfall of $19.5 billion, which reflects the additional amount of money that food-insecure people in the U.S. are likely to spend on just enough food to meet their needs. Yet, despite all the food surplus and efforts of government and non-government entities, over 42 million people, including 15 million children, in the United States are food insecure. This means, 1 in 8 individuals (13%) and 1 in 6 children (17%) live in homes without consistent access to adequate food for everyone to live healthy, active lives. This is a national problem with local health implications across the country. An analysis of health indicators and food insecurity shows that communities with the highest rates of food insecurity are typically BIPOC and face a higher prevalence for diseases tied to health. The short-term health effects of missed meals include fatigue and reduced immune response, which increase the risk of contracting transmissible diseases. Additionally, inadequate nutrition can also stunt children’s development; food insecurity is linked to lower grades and non-cognitive skills, and they may be more likely to exhibit behavioral problems, including anxiety, psychological distress, and substance use. Unsurprisingly, these hard-hit communities are further impacted by long-standing inequities, such as food deserts, where residents struggle to access basics like fruit and vegetables. Whereas, a food swamp is where there are high ratios of bodegas and fast-food — with limited healthy choices — to supermarkets. For example, in the Bronx CD6, NYC there are 37 bodegas to each supermarket, more than twice the city average of 16 to 1. The old adage that the zip code you grow up in can determine your health and life expectancy rings true. Historically harmful institutions, like structural racism and discrimination, only add to the situation. Not enough is being done to fix this food-related crisis. Which is why FoodStream was born.
Part 2: Now let’s get cooking with the kiddos! 👩🍳🌮
We’re back at PS 175 Henry H Garnet, in Harlem!
The prep is done. The stations are ready. Now our Food Explorers take over.
Today’s Breakfast Taco lesson takes students through the whole learning journey:
1 Explore where our food comes from 🌱
2 Learn to chop safely 🔪
3 See, smell & discover what happens when food cooks 👃
4 Whisk, share & collaborate 🤝
5 Build, taste & share what they think 🌮
6 Clean up & compost ♻️
From K–2 through grades 3–5, the learning is age-banded, visual and hands-on particularly valuable for ENL & MLL learners.
And yes, eating is definitely part of the learning. 😋
Real food. Real skills. Real learning.
Want to bring hands-on food learning to your school? 🌱🌮 Let’s get cooking. DM us or visit FSNLEARN.com
🙌🏻
Part 2: Now let’s get cooking with the kiddos! 👩🍳🌮
We’re back at PS 175 Henry H Garnet, in Harlem!
The prep is done. The stations are ready. Now our Food Explorers take over.
Today’s Breakfast Taco lesson takes students through the whole learning journey:
1 Explore where our food comes from 🌱
2 Learn to chop safely 🔪
3 See, smell & discover what happens when food cooks 👃
4 Whisk, share & collaborate 🤝
5 Build, taste & share what they think 🌮
6 Clean up & compost ♻️
From K–2 through grades 3–5, the learning is age-banded, visual and hands-on particularly valuable for ENL & MLL learners.
And yes, eating is definitely part of the learning. 😋
Real food. Real skills. Real learning. #
Want to bring hands-on food learning to your school? 🌱🌮
Let’s get cooking. DM us or visit FoodstreamLEARN.com
🙌🏻 nycschool
What happens before the kids walk through the door? 👀
We're back at PS 175 Henry H Garnet, in Harlem!
Two 60-Min back-to-back Foodstream Food Explorers sessions for K-2 and 3-5 grades.
Up to 25 kiddos per class.
One team. And a whole lot of prep. 🌮
Lesson practiced learning goals
1. Food origins & nutrients ✅
2. Kitchen safety ✅
3. What happens when food cooks ✅
4. Build and create ✅
5. Taste, reflect & tidy ✅
We arrive early so the ingredients are prepped, the room is ready, and every student can get straight into the hands-on learning.
And that’s just Part 1…
Next up: let’s get cooking with the kiddos. 👩🍳🌮
NYCSchools
🌈 SPIN. PICK. BUILD THE RAINBOW. 🌈
Foodstream LEARN is heading to the Javits Center this weekend to celebrate District 75’s Back to School Bash! 🎉
We’re bringing back a Foodstream favorite: Spin the Wheel + Build the Rainbow - a colorful, hands-on way for kiddos to explore fresh fruits & veggies, make choices and maybe discover something new along the way. 🍓🥝🍊🫐
We’re proud to bring hands-on food, nutrition and gardening education to District Office schools across NYC, so it’s always special getting to celebrate the wider D75 community together.
If you’re there, come find us, spin the wheel and build the rainbow! 🌈
BuildTheRainbow
When we’re not busy in schools, we’re out in the community. 💚
Today we took the Foodstream team back to PHIPPS Phipps in the Bronx, a community partner that has supported Foodstream since our earliest days coming out of the pandemic.
When Climate Week gets a little intense, sometimes it’s good to get back to where it all started: community, connection, and putting a little joy back on the menu. 🍎🍂
Today we were talking healthy eating on a budget, with a seasonal fall twist. Chef Anastasia Anastasia Gialouris and Chef Sandi served up Fall Harvest Pasta Cups with homemade Apple C***r Dijon Vinaigrette, showing just how quick, affordable and delicious seasonal eating can be.
Lots of laughs, great conversations, and a few surprised faces when everyone realized just how much they loved the dish.
Best review of the day? Ashley telling us she’s making it for her husband. That’s the kind of takeaway we love.
Real food. Real conversation. Real community.
SeasonalEating CommunityNutrition
What if surplus food could reach people who need it, in real time and right in the neighborhood? 🍎♻️
Foodstream Network connects food businesses managing high volumes of surplus food directly with local food-relief organizations. We call it the “Uber for food rescue”: fast, hyperlocal connections that help keep good food out of the waste stream and put it to good use.
Now imagine that model working across New York City’s schools.
NYC Public Schools Food Service For NYC Public School Students operates the largest school food-service program in the country. In FY2025 alone, it spent $600 million on food and served more than 153 million meals. At that scale, every reduction in avoidable cafeteria food waste can create meaningful environmental, economic and community impact.
That is why we need pioneering school leaders like Assistant Principal Brian Artzt of Bronx Health Sciences High School 🐝 School, leaders ready to turn school cafeterias into places where students don’t just learn about sustainability, but help put it into practice.
We’re working to bring Foodstream’s real-time food-rescue model to NYCPS, connecting schools with food-relief organizations and the communities they serve.
Let’s rescue more food, strengthen local communities and make every meal count. 💚
FoodstreamNetwork
THROWBACK THURSDAY 👀 👃 ✋ 👅
Last year, curiosity was on the menu.
We invited students and families to taste, touch, smell, notice and explore, and reminded ourselves that food can open the door to communication, confidence and learning.
Next Saturday, Foodstream LEARN is bringing another hands-on sensory experience to the District 75 Back to School Bash at the Javits Center.
If you're attending, come find us, follow your senses and discover where food can take you.
📍 Javits Center
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
We can’t wait to welcome District 75 students, families and school communities from across New York City.
NYCSchools
A flight of delights and a day full of connection! 🍂✨
A brilliant first day at the Food Nutrition Fare, hosted by our funding partners Food Service For NYC Public School Students !
This year, Foodstream’s theme explores mindful eating and critical thinking through experience and expression, getting curious, engaging our senses, and sharing what we discover. 🌱
Our Sensation Station was a hit! Our very own baker and assistant educator Ava Wolinetz knocked it out of the park with her fall-inspired “flight of delights.” 🍎🍁
We loved meeting teachers and school staff who are bringing food, nutrition, sustainability, and gardening to life for their students.
A special thank-you to teacher and sustainability coordinator, Alison from PS32 in Brooklyn and everyone who stopped by to taste, explore, and connect today! 💚
HandsOnLearning
Back to school starts with teachers. 🍎🍂
On PS 124’s staff orientation day, Foodstream LEARN led a hands-on professional development workshop exploring how food can bring classroom learning to life.
Across three sessions, teachers chopped, measured, tasted and collaborated, each group creating one part of a shared Fall Harvest Bowl.
Along the way, we explored how food education can support ENL, math, climate and sustainability learning while building practical skills, curiosity and confidence.
Then everyone came back together around the table because every ingredient, every educator and every contribution matters.
Thanks to Food Service For NYC Public School Students NYC Mayor's Office Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy , Principal Valeria Ossa and the entire staff PS 124 Brooklyn PTA for your collected vision, connecting food with student learning, and welcoming Foodsteam so warmly. We look forward to continuing support in 2026-27.
From the classroom to the kitchen, and back to the students. ❤️
🙌 MathEducation climateeducation SustainabilityEducation BrooklynSchools
06/26/2026
💙 Program Manager Appreciation Week at Foodstream LEARN
If our educators are the face of Foodstream LEARN, our Program Managers are the engine behind it.
This week we’re celebrating Grace and Jeanne, whose leadership, responsiveness, and care help keep every partnership running smoothly.
Over the past school year, they’ve coordinated more than 80 school programs, supported 32 educators, partnered with 60+ schools, and helped deliver hands-on food education to thousands of students across New York City. And when needed, they don’t hesitate to step into the classroom themselves, teaching, mentoring, and ensuring every student has a great experience.
Behind every successful lesson is a tremendous amount of planning, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Grace and Jeanne bring that commitment to every school, every educator, and every partnership.
To every principal, teacher, educator, and school partner who has worked alongside them this year, thank you for being part of an incredible team effort. And to grace ciaccia and Jeanne Blanco thank you for everything you do to help Foodstream LEARN make a lasting impact across NYC schools. 💙
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Category
Contact the organization
Telephone
Address
Queens
New York, NY
Alerts
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when FoodStream Network posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.