WASHINGTON, DC – Staying Sharp, a subscription-based brain health platform from AARP, announces Daniel Thomas, acclaimed chef, author and philanthropist, as their newest AARP Healthy Living Chef. As part of this partnership, Chef Daniel will be creating a range of brain healthy recipes and dynamic content that showcase ways to help members keep their minds sharp through simple lifestyle changes and healthier food choices.

A Washington D.C. native and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Daniel spent much of his career serving innovative recipes to tourists, politicians, entertainers, athletes, celebrities and a former President of the United States. Currently, he serves as a private chef to some of D.C.’s power elite and is on an international tour to promote healthy cooking and living a balanced life with food.

Chef Daniel has a unique connection to brain health, his grandmother suffered from dementia, which led him to becoming an advocate for healthy eating and the food as medicine philosophy. “I have always believed that what you eat affects the way you live and how you feel,” said Chef Daniel. “For me it became personal when my family members faced several health issues.  Eating nutritious foods is paramount to one’s well-being. It’s important to me to help everyone understand the benefits of what whole ingredients can provide for our bodies and our minds.”

In addition to cooking, Chef Daniel leads a lifestyle that goes beyond the kitchen. He plays multiple instruments, exercises regularly and promotes nutrition through his partnerships with the Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Occupational Health, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

As part of his partnership with Staying Sharp, Chef Daniel will serve as a champion for the NOURISH pillar. Proper nutrition is a vital part of brain health and he will take a leading role in developing brain healthy recipes and providing his expert tips on the Staying Sharp platform.

“The people who have a greater sense of mental well-being as they go through life are those who engage in the most number of healthy behaviors,” said Sarah Lock, AARP Senior Vice President for Policy, and Executive Director of the Global Council on Brain Health. “Eating a healthy diet is key, and along with exercising, socialization, getting good sleep, and learning new things, eating healthy provides the foundation for maintaining your brain health as you age. Chef Daniel will contribute delicious recipes and practical advice for making healthy living food choices through the Staying Sharp platform – which allows users to take control of their brain health and ultimately, their lives.” 

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About Staying Sharp
Staying Sharp is a subscription-based platform from AARP. This product is part of AARP's commitment to provide reliable information on brain health. Staying Sharp uses a holistic approach to provide science-based, personalized tools and recommendations that allow subscribers to track and measure their brain health progress using five key focus areas or "pillars":  NOURISH (eating right), MOVE (keeping fit), RELAX (managing stress), DISCOVER (learning new things), and CONNECT (being social). To learn more, go to www.stayingsharp.org.

About GCBH
The Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH), founded in 2015, is an independent international group of scientists, health professionals, scholars and policy experts working on brain health issues. Convened by AARP with support from Age UK, the goal of the GCBH is to review the current scientific evidence and provide recommendations for people so that they can maintain and improve their brain health.      

About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name.  As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.