About me
Haile Thomas is a 16-year-old, youth health activist, social entrepreneur, speaker, vegan chef, and the countries youngest Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She is also the co-founder and CEO of the HAPPY Organization established in 2012 in Arizona, and now headquartered in New Windsor, NY. HAPPY (Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth) was established to address the need for free and/or low cost plant-based nutrition and culinary education for young people, particularly in underserved/at-risk communities.
Haile began her journey at 10 years old to engage, educate, and inspire youth and families to embrace healthy habits. Her experience in the health food movement includes personally engaging over 15,000 young people in schools, summer camps, community events, and through HAPPY's youth programs and special events, as well as through her appearances on television, in print media, and at major health and wellness conferences across the country, and through her social media outlets.
Haile serves on several advisory boards, including the Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program, as Hyatt Hotel’s Teen Chef Advisor, and as a Certified Healthy Living Ambassador with the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension office 4-H Club at Tucson Village Farm. She also served for three years on the Clinton Foundation's Alliance for a Healthier Generation Youth Advisory Board.
Haile is one of the first 8 young chefs featured on season one of Rachael vs. Guy Kids-Cook-Off, and also on Cupcake Wars Kids both airing on Food Network. She worked for two years as Jr. Chef Advisor for Hyatt Hotel’s “For Kids - By Kids” Menu, with her recipes served at all Hyatt Resorts in North America and the Caribbean, and as a Nutrition Science Assistant with Canyon Ranch Institute. Haile currently hosts the "Plant-Powered Haile" Cooking Series on YouTube where she shares delicious and nutritious plant-based recipes that everyone can enjoy!
Haile has been featured on Fortune Magazine’s 18 under 18 list, on the Today Show, Dr. Oz, Home and Family Show, and The Rachael Ray Show, and highlighted in several major publications including O Magazine, Teen Vogue, and YES Magazine, and is the first teen featured on the Cover of Experience Life Magazine.