Kelena Gonzalez

I maintain a food program run by the federal government to ensure nutritious and reimbursable meals are being distributed to children in early learning center programs. I cook for about 150 children daily, preparing, and delivering breakfast, lunch, and snack. I track food allergens, and make substitutions as needed. I create monthly menus, track inventory, order the supplies, and also put the truck away when the order arrives. I maintain a clean, orderly kitchen following all the health, and safety guidelines. I partake in grant writing for my departments needs to ensure the kitchen thrives. I help create the fiscal year budget for my department. I also teach weekly nutritional education classes, where I interact with the children through hands on demonstrations, and lesson plans.

• Prepared diverse menu items following recipes and presentation standards
• Managed food inventory, ensuring freshness and minimizing waste
• Operated kitchen equipment safely and efficiently, maintaining cleanliness standards
• Collaborated with team members to optimize workflow during peak service hours
• Trained new staff on food preparation techniques and safety protocols
• Monitored food safety compliance, conducting regular inspections of storage areas
• Maintained clean and organized work areas at all times to bring safety and quality to food preparation process.
• Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
• Checked for quality, kept track of old and new items and rotated stock to confirm freshness of food and ingredients.

Prepared diverse menu items, including homemade desserts and daily lunches. Executed dinner preparations accommodating various dietary needs, such as mechanical, advanced, and purée diets. Included heart-healthy and gluten-free options along with other dietary restrictions. Crafted homemade soups, gravies, and entrees for steam table service. Plated meals according to specifications from dietary aides during tray line service. Maintained cleanliness by sanitizing equipment, wiping countertops, sweeping, mopping, and disposing of waste at day's end.