Biography
Garrett Berdan is a registered dietitian nutritionist and chef. As a culinary nutrition consultant, Garrett specializes in K-12 school nutrition programs, quantity recipe development, culinary training, food communications, marketing collateral development, and spokesperson work. His career includes experience in nutrition and culinary communications, program management, culinary nutrition instruction, work as a retail dietitian, and production assistance for a Food Network television program. Garrett has written for Food and Nutrition Magazine and the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
To become a better food professional Garrett chose to complement his nutrition degree with training from The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. He completed the Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program in 2005 and he received the CIA Award for Culinary Achievement. In 2014 he began serving on the national advisory committee for Healthy Flavors, Healthy Kids, an initiative of the Culinary Institute of America. He continues to be involved as the Membership Chair of the CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative.
In 2011 The White House honored Garrett as a Champion of Change for his work with school nutrition programs and Chefs Move to Schools. Garrett’s experience with Chefs Move to Schools is featured in First Lady Michelle Obama’s book American Grown.
Growing up in a farming family in Wenatchee, Washington gave Garrett an appreciation for the hard work that goes into producing nourishing foods. He is proud to support domestic food agriculture by working with commodity marketing commissions, growers and processors to bring wholesome and delicious meals to American tables.
Garrett is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Food and Culinary Professionals (FCP) Dietetic Practice Group, the School Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, and the School Nutrition Association. He has held many elected and appointed leadership positions with both the Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and FCP. Garrett lives in sunny Bend, Oregon with his wife and son where they enjoy year-round recreation in the Cascade Mountains.