Chick-fil-A, the popular restaurant franchise, has unveiled its first-ever digital cookbook, titled “Extra Helpings: Inspiring Stories and Imaginative Recipes from Chick-fil-A Shared Table,” as part of a charitable initiative to combat food insecurity. Andrew T. Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A, announced this cookbook’s release, inspired by the restaurant’s food donation program, Chick-fil-A Shared Table™, which was established in 2012 with the primary aim of addressing hunger and food scarcity.
In his statement, Cathy shed light on the pressing issue of food insecurity in the United States. According to Feeding America®, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating hunger, around 34 million Americans, including 9 million children, are currently grappling with food insecurity, lacking access to adequate nourishment for their households. This is a widespread problem that demands attention and action.
Cathy also highlighted the issue of food waste in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that Americans discard approximately one pound of food per day. To address this concern, Cathy posed a thought-provoking question: “Can you imagine if — instead of going to a landfill — that extra food could help feed those in need?” It’s a compelling concept, emphasizing the potential positive impact of redirecting surplus food to those who are struggling.
Since the inception of the Chick-fil-A Shared Table™ program, local owner-operators from nearly 2,000 Chick-fil-A restaurants across 47 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Canada have joined forces to donate surplus food to nearby shelters, soup kitchens, senior centers, after-school programs, and other nonprofit organizations. This collective effort is making a substantial difference in addressing food insecurity in various communities.
“Extra Helpings” is a digital cookbook featuring 26 recipes, thoughtfully categorized into four sections: Breakfast, Entrees, Sides & Shareables, and Desserts. The breakfast section offers tantalizing options like spicy queso and eggs and chicken and egg breakfast casserole. Meanwhile, the entree section includes recipes for mouthwatering dishes such as nugget fried Rice and chicken alfredo pasta. These recipes have been developed by valued nonprofit partners, utilizing surplus food items sourced from Chick-fil-A restaurants, resulting in flavorful and creative meals.
Today, Chick-fil-A announced its first cookbook, “Extra Helpings,” featuring recipes from local nonprofit partners that use donated surplus food from Chick-fil-A restaurants to feed those in need through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program. View here: https://t.co/5BDY6OD6ZW pic.twitter.com/IT20h26Q4j
— Chick-fil-A News (@ChickfilANews) October 16, 2023
Cathy concluded his statement by encouraging the public to explore the cookbook and the stories of individuals who selflessly care for those in need with kindness and compassion. “Extra Helpings” is available free of charge and can be accessed at extrahelpings.com, making it easily accessible to anyone interested in contributing to the fight against food insecurity while savoring delightful recipes that promote resourcefulness and compassion.
