The Creation of Best Academy – Vegan Child Care at its Best!

When Bob and Nancy Isaacson decided to open a child care center in Savannah, Georgia, they knew they wanted to offer children of all backgrounds the best start across the board. They opened the doors of Best Academy with a focus on environmentalism, music, yoga and hands-on learning. In the back of their minds they also knew they eventually wanted to offer an all vegetarian menu, including using vegetables from their on-site organic garden when available. Although familiar with the vegetarian diet through their daughter, the Isaacson’s weren’t sure how to go about creating a vegetarian menu for a whole center full of children, and be able to do it within their budget. 

In July 2009, Director Juliet Doggett joined Best, and being a vegan herself brainstormed the best way to make a vegetarian menu. With the help of Chef Justin Sexton, also a vegan, they were able to not only create a delicious and nutritious vegetarian menu, but actually saved the center money in doing so. From vegetable potpie to vegan sloppy joes the children are served meals that not only taste wonderful, but also give their growing bodies a healthy start! 

Owner Bob Isaacson is please with the results, “The thing I like about how Juliet and Justin run the food program, is that they believe in what they are doing, and do it with full commitment to the menu and to the children.” 

Very few child care centers or schools across the United States offer a fully vegetarian menu to their children, and even fewer do it so that children of almost any background are able to reap the benefits. 

Director Juliet Doggett summed it up best, “I think that the one thing the Isaacsons, Justin and I all agree on when it comes to Best is that we want to keep our tuition low so all children can attend, and still offer the best programs, such as the vegetarian food program, to better their lives. Not only affluent families should be able to send their children to a center of the highest quality. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it!” 

Best Academy www.thebestacademy.net