Chartwells K12 Empowers Middle and High School Students to "Power Up" Their Day

"Power Up" performance nutrition program brings together food, hands-on education, and chef-led experiences to help students feel and perform their best

• Power Up is a new performance nutrition program from Chartwells K12 for middle and high school students that connects everyday food choices with energy, focus, hydration, recovery, and overall well-being.
• Through flavorful school meals, pop-up tastings, culinary demonstrations, and practical nutrition education, the program helps students see how food can fuel them throughout the school day and beyond.
• Shaped by generational insights, Power Up is part of Chartwells K12's broader approach to evolving the school dining experience through student-centered menus, interactive programming, and innovative limited-time offerings.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether students are preparing for a big game, a full day of classes, after-school activities, or a busy evening ahead, what they eat can affect how they feel, focus, and perform. That's why Chartwells K12 is introducing Power Up, a new program for middle and high school students that brings performance nutrition to life through flavorful meals, interactive tastings, and culinary demonstrations.

Built around the idea that performance nutrition benefits every student, Power Up was shaped by Chartwells K12's generational insights into how today's students want to fuel up with protein-packed and macro-friendly foods. The program helps students connect everyday food choices with energy, focus, hydration, recovery, and overall well-being through chef- and dietitian-informed recipes, targeted nutrition education, and hands-on experiences.

"We believe school meals are one of the most powerful tools we have to support student success," said Amy Shaffer, CEO of Chartwells K12. "Power Up takes a food-first approach by starting with delicious, student-friendly meals and using them as a launchpad for real-world nutrition education. We want students to see the cafeteria as a place where they can discover foods that help them feel good, stay energized, and power through everything their day brings."

Designed to fit naturally into students' daily routines, Power Up features familiar foods in new ways. From a Sunberry Smoothie and Banana Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats to the Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowl and Potato Poppers, recipes highlight how whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and dairy work together to fuel the body and brain.

Through pop-up tastings, students can sample performance-focused recipes, learn practical nutrition tips, and take home ideas they can use beyond the cafeteria. Events explore topics such as pre-activity fuel, post-activity recovery, hydration, eating well on the go, and simple ways to adapt recipes based on taste preferences and ingredients available at home.

"Middle and high school students are making more of their own food choices, and Power Up gives them the knowledge and confidence to make choices that support their goals," said Lindsey Palmer, MS, RDN, Vice President of Nutrition & Industry Relations, Chartwells K12. "By pairing great food with simple, science-based education, we're helping students understand that nutrition isn't about restriction or rules. It's about fueling their bodies with a variety of foods that support energy, strength, focus, and overall well-being."

Power Up builds on Chartwells K12's broader approach to evolving school dining for today's students. The program complements a growing portfolio of student-centered experiences, including Nutrition: Game On, which brings interactive nutrition education to elementary students, Global Eats, which introduces students to globally inspired flavors and cuisines, and restaurant-style limited-time offerings such as Pizza Daze. Together, these programs reflect Chartwells K12's continued focus on making school meals more engaging, relevant, and connected to how students want to eat and learn.

About Chartwells K12
Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 19,000 associates in 5,000 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education, and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit www.ChartwellsK12.com.

Media Contact: Jonathan Squibb, Director of Communications, [email protected] 

SOURCE Chartwells K12