ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the role school cooks play in shaping food experiences and food culture in schools. It discusses the way school cooks have been portrayed in the media, before discussing the cooks' individual histories, and their knowledge and beliefs about food education. The relationships cooks have with young people are important because they can influence what children choose to eat at lunchtime, as well as helping to build food culture in schools. The chapter explains the role cooks play in organising lunchtimes, including the food procurement policies of schools, the costs involved, and the skills needed. It describes the role of women in feeding children and highlights how often, cooks are regarded as performing this role as a form of maternal care. The chapter highlights the place of kitchens and cooks within the intersection of foodieness and nutritional discourses.
