1) Sprouts’ CIT program
A 6-month culinary, vocational training program for underprivileged youth ages 16-24 where interns develop the essential skills needed to secure and maintain a job in the modern restaurant industry.


2) In-Restaurant Cooking Classes and Camps
Subsidized and free classes for diverse children, 7-12, in the Bay Area, NYC, and Paris.
3) Birthday Parties
Fun parties that teach about nutritional basics, sugar awareness, and cooking skills.

In 2006, Sprouts was launched in the Bay Area with the mission to teach children from all socioeconomic, physical and mental health backgrounds the importance of healthy, nutritional foods through hands-on cooking with REAL chefs with REAL ingredients in REAL restaurants. In 2009, it was formally converted into an official 501c3, thanks to the encouragement of Alice Waters, a member of Sprouts’ advisory board. Since then, Sprouts has expanded to inspire and empower youth in New York City and Paris.
Here at Sprouts, we strive to teach children, hands-on, that healthy, nutritional eating is fun by involving them in the entire process – from planting the seed and harvesting, to cooking, eating (and cleaning!) with real chefs. Additional subsidies and scholarships are provided for those in need.
We are thrilled to have the support of Alice Waters and Jamie Oliver on our board. We are so grateful for the support of our 100+ community partners, including Girls Inc and the Unified School Districts in NYC, Oakland, SF, and Berkeley.
We are proud to have our own organic garden and outdoor kitchen where the children harvest and cook with produce that they planted themselves. We even grocery shop with the children to teach them about budgeting and reading labels. We keep cooking REAL — the children cook, side-by-side, with real chefs from restaurants like Chez Panisse and Pizzaiolo, Tartine, and Boulevard. The kids consider these chefs culinary heroes; and what better role model than someone who believes so strongly in good food that they have dedicated their lives to it.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OUR HONORARY ADIVSORY BOARD
OUR STORY
Growing up, my dad taught me that food could heal. My mother showed me that food had soul. For me, food was FUN – a social, creative experience.
– Karen Rogers
The stats confirm what we see every day on the streets: childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. We have all heard this before: the extra pounds weighing down our youth are leading to health, social and psychological issues.
Growing up, my father told me countless stories of his patients that suffered from poor eating habits. He taught me that food could heal. My mom taught me that food had soul. Raised on a farm, she ground wheat to make us bread and jammed fruits from her garden.
For me, food was FUN. In preschool, I planted a pumpkin patch. In elementary school, I baked home-made pies with friends. In high school, I hosted ‘rainbow’ dinners with colorful produce. Cooking with real foods was a social, creative experience.
In college, however, I realized that the majority of us never learned HOW to eat well, or WHY real food is so important. Cooking was intimidating. And I wanted to change that.
So I am.
One kid at a time, class by class, I am thrilled to be bringing the health, soul, and FUN back in good food.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
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BAY: (510) 680-3614
Sprouts Locations
San Jose
San Diego
San Francisco
Berkeley
Oakland
New York City
Headquarters: 3206 Hannah Street, Unit 1, Oakland CA 94608