Headshot of Bettina Applewhite

Bettina J. Applewhite

Senior Operations Supervisor

Bites With Applewhite

Bettina Applewhite is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist and School Nutrition Specialist. She has been a dietitian for over a decade and working in school nutrition for over 8 years. She is currently employed at a large, multicultural district in Maryland as a Sr. Operations Supervisor.

Bettina earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Hampton University, her Master of Science in Integrative Bioscience with a concentration in Nutrition from The Pennsylvania State University and completed her dietetic internship at Tulane University. She has a passion for food and international flavors which she develops through travel and research. Bettina enjoys working with younger generations to encourage healthy eating while enticing them to try new foods, too. She introduces healthy eating and easy to follow recipes through her blog, Bites With Applewhite.

Bettina was most recently featured on Bravo TV’s newest culinary competition show, Top Chef Amateurs, and has been named as a “Cook to Follow” by AllRecipes. She is currently serving on SNA’s School Nutrition Credentialing Board and the Committee for Research and Nutrition. When not focusing on school nutrition or helping people build healthier lives, you can find Bettina traveling, running half marathons and planning awesome dinner parties.

Education Session

Monday, July 11, 2022 

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Creating Culturally Diverse Menus for Your Community

As the U.S. has become more diverse, it is important for school meals include foods that are reflective of the community. In this education session, it is important. Learn methods of gathering information about what cultures are present in  your district, what items can be incorporated into your menu easily and the benefits of diversifying your menus (including increased participation).
Part of SNA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion series sponsored by TITAN – A LINQ Solution
Target Audience: All

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Learning Burst

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm

Top 5 Ways School Nutrition Prepared Me for Top Chef – Back by Popular Demand from SNIC 2022

If you are not familiar with Top Chef Amateurs here’s the premise. It is a competition-based television show where two amateur cooks work on a team with a professional chef to make the best possible meal. The competition involves using a random selection of ingredients and in a limited amount of time, and then serving the creation to a panel of picky eaters. Sound familiar? That’s because it parallels the daily adventures of school nutrition professionals! Thinking on your feet, and being able to make delicious, nutritious meals based on the available foods is certainly a skill. That’s why School Nutrition Specialist, Bettina Applewhite, was uniquely prepared for the challenge of competing on Top Chef Amateurs— because of the experiences she gained in her school nutrition program’s kitchen. Hear the lessons she learned, and why you may be more prepared than you think for your next big challenge.
Target Audience: All

Get to Know Bettina

What are you most excited about this year’s ANC?

I’m most excited about being gathered together again, meeting new people, and going to some great education sessions and keynotes.

What is the most important tip you would like attendees to take away from your session?

I’m fortunate enough to be able to present at two sessions this year. I have an education session on creating culturally diverse menus that reflect your communities and a learning burst reflecting on my time on Top Chef Amateurs and the Top 5 Ways school nutrition prepared me for that experience. Even though the topics may not sound related, I hope they both encourage the audience to try something new, listen to their communities, and go for the unique experiences.

ANC’s theme this year is “Powered by Imagination.” What do you do to keep your creative juices flowing or to feed your imagination?

Travel is my best way to feed my imagination. I enjoy surrounding myself with different cultures, people, and environments. Travel pushes me past my “norm” by literally crossing boarders. During the pandemic, I wasn’t able to travel much physically, but I realized I can travel on my plate by trying different dishes and spices and cooking techniques.

Find Bettina on TikTok as well: https://www.tiktok.com/@biteswithapplewhite