From lineman to 'lunch man,' former NFL player inspires youth as school cook
Former NFL offensive lineman Jared Veldheer took an atypical route after his career as a professional athlete was over. Focusing on his passion for nutrition, he went from lineman to "lunch man."
Veldheer now works at St. Paul the Apostle School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
NFL Films documented Veldheer's unique second act as he encourages school children to eat healthy foods packed with nutrition.
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"I liked cooking, and I knew the value of nutrition for performance from my career," Veldheer said. "I thought it would be a cool thing to be able to grow that and take into account an entire grade school."
Veldheer has plenty of items on his menu. He has featured gourmet meals such as tikka masala flank steak. He also holds Taco Tuesdays with a special Mexican slaw that includes shredded kale, carrots and cabbage.
In addition to cooking, Veldheer gets to spend time with his children, who attend the school. His wife Morgan is happy to see the impact on the overall community.
"I also think it's great just for the St. Paul community to see a male figure in the schools," Morgan Veldheer said. "It's a predominant female industry. Especially, for the boys and young men to see that you can help, you can give back and you can cook in the kitchen."
While many school cooks are not 6'8 and former NFL players, Veldheer shows it's never too late to make an impact on a younger generation.
"It's not about accolades for him," St. Paul the Apostle school principal Michelle Morrow said. "He does it because he has a servant and service heart. So, whatever he does is really to put something better into the community."
Veldheer spent 11 years in the NFL before retiring last season. He played four years each with the Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals. In 2018, Veldheer played for the Denver Broncos and had short stints with the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers.
Paste BN Sports producer Jaylon Thompson contributed to this report.