Order Up! A Conversation with Cassandra Loftlin, Chef, Community Health and Environmental Justice Advocate
From professional chef to food justice advocate, Chef Cassandra shares how small shifts in our kitchens—and our communities—can make a big impact
This Black History Month, we’re bringing you interviews with African American chefs and food experts at the intersection of food, sustainability, and social justice - and they’re sharing their insights & tips for nourishing healthy kids & communities. Read on!
Small Bites:
📺 Tonight! Watch Finding Edna Lewis streaming on PBS. Read our interview with host and food historian Deb Freeman.
🍴 Shop delicious food from award-winning African-American Chefs for Black History Month from Goldbelly - ships Nationwide!
👨🍳 Purchase the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse so your kids can learn how to cook and not simply follow a recipe - give them the life skills to not only survive, but thrive!
🛒 Learn more about Healthy Communities Augusta and Goodness Gracious Grocery
🥔 One Potato is a reader-supported newsletter - paid subscribers have access to the full archive of Recipes and Specials Interviews and Community Voices for $5/month or $45/year. This first interview of the month is available for ALL subscribers.
As a former chef turned Community Health and Environmental Justice Advocate, Cassandra Loftlin is on a mission to make sure every child—no matter where they live—has access to fresh, nourishing food.
But Cassandra’s journey to food advocacy didn’t start in a boardroom. It started in the kitchen. First, in her childhood home, where she was always her mom’s little helper, and later, as a professional chef and recipe tester for America’s Test Kitchen. Along the way, she realized that what kids eat isn’t just about taste—it’s about access. She saw firsthand that sometimes, kids weren’t turning down vegetables because they were picky, but because they were simply hungry. Like the time she brought turnips to a school, expecting resistance, only to find kids eagerly reaching for more. That moment changed everything.
Now, Cassandra is working with Healthy Communities Augusta and Goodness Gracious Grocery to help families build sustainable food networks, reduce food waste, and rethink the way they cook at home. In our conversation, she shares how we can all make small, meaningful changes in our kitchens—whether it’s cooking more intuitively, making the most of leftovers, or embracing the magic of roasting (trust us, she makes a strong case!).
—>Behind the Paywall: Read our full interview with Chef Cassandra, including her journey to becoming a chef and how she approaches recipe creation for kids and parents alike…plus so much more…
A yummy note from Goldbelly:
Honoring Black History Month: Celebrate Black Food Makers 👩🏾🍳
As a community of American food lovers & food makers, we have a deep gratitude for the influence African American culture has had on U.S. regional food. From icons like Chef Carla Hall in Washington, D.C. to small, independent bakers, like Nikki J's Cakes down in Texas, Goldbelly delivers the most epic eats crafted by Black food makers right to your door.
These chefs are cooking up everything from BBQ to pasta to red velvet cake and ice cream - you’re sure to find something to satisfy any craving. Check out the options for a special family treat.
Order now and support Black chefs: Shop Black Food Makers on Goldbelly 🔪
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