What We Mean When We Talk About Food Literacy
At Bon Appétit, our Dream promises that we provide “food that is alive with flavor and nutrition… for the well-being of our guests, communities, and the environment.” As I think about what this means in practice, ensuring that we do all we can to foster a well-informed relationship with food among our teams and guests is a core part of my vision.
Whether we’re training teams on plant-forward cuisine or food allergies or helping guests identify a piece of uncommon produce or to prepare a vinaigrette, we’re boosting food literacy. When we’re working with guests to identify foods that meet their personal, religious, and/or cultural diets (along with food allergy and intolerance needs), we’re also boosting food literacy. It’s part of everything we do. So, what does it mean, and what does that commitment look like in the day-to-day?
An Extension of Our Dream
Food literacy at our company is more than knowledge; it’s an extension of our Dream. It’s a commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of food and its impact across society. Strengthening our teams’ know-how so we can all set guests on the path to food literacy means empowering teams to transmit their expertise to those who dine with us. In turn, this equips guests with the insight, skills, and values needed to make meaningful food choices that enhance personal health, community well-being, and environmental stewardship.
Of course, achieving the ripple effect of food literacy requires that our team members are well-equipped to drive our mission. We want you to be empowered with the knowledge and experience you need to transmit your expertise to our guests. As the experts and operators, you’re doing the hands-on work to shape how we design our menus and prepare our food, how we engage with guests and how we create experiences that place our food offerings in context.
We see that spirit of lifelong learning and exchange built into the four pillars of our commitment to food literacy. Those pillars are:
- Building culinary confidence: As culinary professionals, we prepare flavorful, high-quality meals centered on fresh ingredients and culturally authentic techniques. We aim to equip guests with those same skills.
- Nourishing well-being: Our teams foster informed food choices that promote individual health and align with guests’ wellness goals.
- Embracing sustainability: Our culinary and wellness teams help guests make intentional food choices that positively impact the environment and reinforce our dedication to sustainable food systems.
- Fostering community: We encourage building connections through food, cooking, and learning that strengthen community bonds and enrich our shared dining experience.
Bringing Food Literacy to Life
Bringing these pillars to life every day is part of all our jobs here at Bon Appétit. Our dietitians and wellness team members inspire meaningful change through teaching hands-on skills that equip guests with the confidence to choose, prepare, and enjoy food in ways that nourish both people and planet. The food our chefs create inspires curiosity about where ingredients come from, how to develop culinary skills, and how cuisines evolve. And our welcoming cafés, with their meals, workshops, and other food-focused activities, create spaces that build community, learning, and cultural exchange.
This commitment to fostering literacy is intentional, ongoing work that can also be really fun! And it’s fundamental to who we are as a company that cares deeply about people and the planet we all share.
Terri Brownlee is our Vice President of Wellness and Food Education. This letter first appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of Bravo magazine. Read more here.