FAQs
Who we are and what we do
Eat Real is the only doctor-led, science-based, and foodservice approved K-12 nutrition certification program in the U.S. We work with foodservice leaders at school districts across the country, to improve their meal programs through nutrition education, local and sustainable sourcing, and putting real, delicious food on the menu.
Eat Real Certified districts earned their certification by meeting our ten evidence-based standards. Each certification is a signal to their students, staff, and community that they are committed to providing quality meals to kids that exceed the minimum federal standards. Our partner district leaders are passionate about what they do and about changing the trajectory of kids’ health through their cafeterias.
Currently, yes. Eat Real certification is available to most school districts within the U.S. Contact us to find out if Eat Real is available to your district.
School food programs are one of the most effective ways to create real, lasting change for kids. They serve millions of children daily—30 million of which rely on school food for 50% or more of their daily calories—making them a uniquely equitable lever for improving health, academic outcomes, and long-term wellbeing.
Our certification program
Nothing! Eat Real certification is completely free for school districts.
No two district paths are the same, but on average, most districts complete their certification in 1-2 school years. Learn more about the path to certification on our Certification page.
Our certification tiers are the different levels at which a district can become certified. Our current tiers are Green, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The tier a district certifies at is dependent on their overall score at the end of their assessment period.
If you are a district foodservice leader who is interested in learning more about our program, reach out to us through our contact form. Someone from our team will reach out to you as soon as possible!
For parents, students, and other interested community members, you can learn more through our Get Involved page.
Our 10 Eat Real Standards
Eat Real’s ten evidence-based standards were developed alongside experts in childhood nutrition, medicine, and sustainable food systems, measuring indicators in four key areas:
- Nutrition
- Sustainable procurement
- Waste prevention
- Real food education
Our program sets ambitious goals for healthier, planet-sustaining, and community-focused school meals, exceeding federal requirements set by the USDA.
No! Many Eat Real Certified districts have pizza on the menu—some of which we’ve personally had the privilege to enjoy.
We do not require the removal of any specific menu item to become certified. Rather, we assess a district’s overall menu and procurement against a range of criteria that support each of our ten standards.
Not necessarily. Our certification assessment is designed to capture a holistic snapshot of a district’s school breakfast and lunch program across a range of key performance indicators. To earn certification, a district must score at least one point in each standard and obtain the required number of total points for one of our tiers—Green, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
How to support Eat Real
Eat Real certifies school districts across the country at no cost to the districts. Because we provide our services for free, we rely on the support of donors to keep our program running.
We’re thrilled you would like to support Eat Real! Please visit our Donate page to make a one-time or recurring donation.
Eat Real is able to accept donations online and offline, such as check, donor-advised fund grant, stock, ACH/direct debit, wire transfer, or planned gift. If you have any questions on giving, please reach out to lainie@eatreal.org.
Core program funding
Gifts support Eat Real’s K–12 certification program, which provides school foodservice teams with a framework, coaching, and tools to improve the nutritional quality and sustainability of their menus. This includes helping districts increase fresh and local ingredients, add
more plant-forward options, cut food waste, and exceed federal nutrition standards.
Community and systems change
Donor support also enables Eat Real to contribute to broader food systems change—supporting local farmers and food businesses through school procurement and advancing healthier, climate‑friendly menus at scale.
Eat Real focuses on transforming school food through a rigorous, science-backed certification program that changes what kids actually eat every day, while also driving cultural change and policy shifts around real food.
Unique certification model
Eat Real is an award-winning K–12 school food certification, built on 10 evidence-based standards and 34 key performance indicators that reshape district menus and procurement, rather than just funding one-off programs or events. Our team of registered dietitians assess entire district operations and create multi-year, customized change plans, making the work deeply embedded and long-term rather than transactional.
Measurable outcomes
Eat Real works at the district level, currently supporting hundreds of schools and hundreds of thousands of students. Our work nationwide has led to documented outcomes like millions of pounds of sugar removed, millions of plant-based entrées added, and large volumes of locally and sustainably sourced produce in a single school year.
Cafeteria as classroom and catalyst
Eat Real turns the cafeteria into a classroom for real food, integrating nutrition education with what shows up on the tray. By helping schools reduce waste, buy from local farms, and improve menu quality, Eat Real positions cafeterias as engines for community health, local economies, and climate action at the same time.
