Meet Diane Gerrodk, our newest net-zero hero! As the executive chef of the Austin Independent School District (AISD), Diane has influenced the health and eating habits of more than 74,000 Austinians! From accepting high-quality food sourcing programs to supporting campus gardens, Diane focuses on sustainability in all her work. Her efforts are helping to bring a healthy and just local food system to AISD and the entire city.
We met with Diane at Lively Middle School to discuss the food program in the area, her passion for sustainability, and her tips to help us all become more environmentally friendly every day!
In the sixth grade, I had an inspirational teacher who founded an environmental awareness club, and I was the first chairman! It was in the 90s, so our main goal was to teach our students the slogan "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". Since then, I have become interested in sustainability. As the world becomes warmer and more plastic-filled, my interest in sustainable practices continues to increase.
Six years ago, I started working for AISD as a cafe manager. In my first year, I worked with my supervisor to see how my school’s garden could safely supply the vegetables grown there for the students who came through the lunch line. With this small goal, we started the official Garden to Café project!
Soon after, I was asked to start a meal plan in the area. Making this sustainable development is also very important to me. I don't want to be another catering supplier who uses disposable aluminum trays and disposable bowls, which are wrapped in plastic tablecloths and thrown in the trash at the end of lunch. I purchased durable, reusable service containers, hot pots, real service utensils, and used compostable items (plates and forks) that our department has already purchased. I travel with a compost bag, so no matter where I am, I can properly dispose of food waste. I often take home the compost bags that I participated in and put them in the bucket on the side of the road. I cook a lot of dishes and my car usually smells like food, but this is an operation with almost zero waste!
A year ago, when I became the executive chef, my first project was to create a way for our roadside meal plan to package 14 "take-out" meals with minimal packaging and limited food waste. Another project I am proud of is the preparation of a monthly training module on the sustainability work of our department so that our employees can understand the "reasons" behind our hard work in this field. I strive to become a spokesperson for the sustainable development of our department, and always promote more self-service through pliers, squeeze bottles and fewer disposable containers, thereby reducing waste and saving money in our department. I am working hard to make our dishwasher operable so that we can provide reusable trays, work with Keep Austin Fed to reduce food waste in the kitchen during the holidays and add new plant-based dishes to each seasonal menu . I also like to find ways to incorporate more local products into our meals and use fresh, non-frozen products produced nearby. This year, we partnered with a local bakery (New World Bakery) to add four new local products to our cafe menu and three new products to our franchise menu.
The goal is for AISD students to realize how sustainable development can be achieved not only in the classroom but also in the cafeteria. Our youngest students learn about composting and recycling in our cafe every day, sometimes even unknowingly being introduced to plant-based meals that are good for their health and the earth.
The most meaningful part of working on sustainability in my department is getting support, resources, and connections to turn ideas into reality. When I started composting and recycling in all of our stadiums this fall, I knew who to ask and how to complete all the settings in a reasonable time. I am also very happy to see our employees participate in sustainable development. The best thing is to visit the cafeteria and see the team there take small steps and come up with their own ideas to improve sustainability and prevent waste. I often see small changes that I may not have considered, and then I can share them with other members of our team!
Diane (right) and the lively middle school kitchen staff, the winner of the AISD Monthly Kitchen Award in December!
The most difficult part is having ideas, support from my department, and plans to do big things-but let them suffer from supply chain problems and labor shortages in a year and a half! If we don't have employees to run them, a dishwasher that is ready to run with reusable trays is useless. Having to buy compostable forks sold in separate plastic bags is frustrating because that's all that is available. At the same time I started as the executive chef, the world turned to uninterrupted use of plastic gloves and single servings, packaging everything individually as a means of survival. I can't wait to get rid of Covid and really get things done!
One way people incorporate sustainability into their diet is to reduce meat consumption and eat more vegetables. This sounds scary, but in many ways, eating plant-based foods is much easier. Compared to cutting raw chicken, canned beans are easy to prepare!
I always recommend that friends and family try to increase the number of plant-based meals they prepare each week, starting with beans, because they are very simple and versatile. There are pinto bean tacos, three-bean chili, chickpea Caesar salad and baked potatoes with baked beans. good to eat!
Remember, to be "green" and make a difference, you don't have to do everything in one go! Start with small, impactful actions:
To learn more about Austin’s net zero goals, including Austin’s food production and consumption goals, check out the Austin Climate Equity Program. Want to open a vegetable garden or start composting on your campus? The Bright Green Future Grant program provides up to $3,000 in funding for school-based sustainable development projects.
Share your Net-Zero contribution with us on Twitter or Facebook and use #NetZeroHero. If you know a net-zero hero (or hero!) who should be recognized for his efforts, please send your nomination to sustainability@austintexas.gov.
News, ideas and inspiration from the Office of Sustainability to help advance Austin's bright and green future.