Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.
The Vision Behind Meals in Motion
Founded by Nicholas Doran, Meals in Motion began as a vision to make cooking education and healthy food access available to every family in Los Angeles County. What started as one man’s passion for teaching children the joy of cooking has grown into a community-driven movement inspiring confidence, connection, and healthier living across the San Fernando Valley, South Bay, Westside, and Antelope Valley.
Turning Challenges Into Purpose
Nicholas’s journey from hardship to hope is the foundation of Meals in Motion. Having grown up in poverty and faced life-changing obstacles, he discovered the power of food as a tool for healing and transformation. His personal experiences became the blueprint for a nonprofit that empowers youth and families to learn, grow, and thrive through hands-on culinary education.
A Founder’s Story of Resilience and Renewal
Nicholas Doran is the Founder of Meals in Motion, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit dedicated to teaching children and families the life-changing power of cooking. Raised in poverty and shaped by adversity, Nicholas lost his mother at the age of twelve and grew up navigating the world without guidance or stability. After enduring years of struggle and incarceration, he rebuilt his life through faith, discipline, and a renewed sense of purpose.
It was his mother’s cooking—simple, nourishing, and filled with love—that inspired his transformation. From that legacy, Nicholas founded Meals in Motion to share the same sense of hope and belonging with others. The organization now delivers healthy cooking classes, nutrition education, and community programs across Los Angeles County, partnering with schools, nonprofits, and local organizations to reach underserved communities.
Meals in Motion goes beyond recipes—it reconnects families, teaches practical life skills, and helps youth discover confidence through creativity. Nicholas’s vision continues to guide the organization’s mission to build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities across Los Angeles, proving that every meal has the power to change a life.