Maria Newman is a regional chef for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System Child Nutrition Program in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She started her culinary career at sixteen, working for a premier catering company that hosted the LSU fighting tigers. In 2009, Newman attended culinary school at the Louisiana Culinary Institute and then began working for the infamous Al Copeland in an all-scratch kitchen. Later, Newman began her career in K-12 schools, working her way through kitchen management and the procurement department to being hired as the first chef employed by the district. She is passionate about creating culinary solutions for the school nutrition program, which includes creating recipes that reflect the dynamic culture of the student body in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Newman states, "It is important to me to develop and serve recipes that reflect dynamic and culture, are healthy, and appeal to the students served daily. I also continue researching ways to implement tactics to aid in combating childhood obesity and food insecurity, prevent plate waste, and increase food consumption." Like many, her curiosity for cooking started in her grandmother's kitchen at a young age making everything from sunny-side-up eggs and toast to deep, rich, flavorful curries. Newman attributes her culinary success to her grandmother. Most recently, she was named Dairy Max School Lunch Hero for 2023. Newman resides in Zachary, Louisiana, with her husband, Bruce, and five children. (Zachary, LA)