Eat REAL Blog

Eat Real Visits Washington, DC to Discuss Nutrition Equity for America’s Schoolchildren
Eat Real CEO Nora LaTorre, WANDA CEO Tambra Raye Stevenson, and USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt moving mountains to address child nutrition security, in schools and beyond, as part of 2023 Organic Week in Washington, DC Last week, Eat Real CEO Nora LaTorre was in Washington, DC to participate

It Takes a Village to Transform School Food
Serving thousands of students nutritious meals every day takes a dedicated team of school food professionals. From the nutrition staff and chefs who create the recipes with local ingredients, to the administrators who support these changes, to the communities who care about an equitable cafeteria experience for their students, it truly takes a special group

Celebrating Earth Day 2023 with Farm To School Visionaries
Last weekend, Eat Real’s CEO Nora LaTorre and Board Member Miguel Villareal celebrated Earth Day at a special event hosted by California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newson at the gorgeous Soil Born Farms in Sacramento. The event was intended to highlight California’s Farm to School program and make the connection between food, health, and climate

How Healthier School Meals Can Help Heal the Planet
Each day in America, thousands of school foodservice workers spend their days in kitchens and cafeterias preparing meals for our nation’s students. In big cities and small towns, as students roll in, cafeterias are busy getting ready to feed the roughly 30 million children who eat school food every day. If you treat our nation’s

100,000 Comments Needed to Support the USDA’s Improved K-12 Nutrition Standards
You can help nourish the future. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed new nutrition standards for school meals to improve the health of America’s children. This is an important step forward. Now, your voice is needed so the USDA knows there is broad public support for their recommendations to limit added sugars, emphasize whole grains,

Eat Real on the Be Well By Kelly Podcast: Listen Here
Have you ever wondered what it takes to make school lunches healthier for children and the planet? Recently, Eat Real’s CEO, Nora LaTorre, and San Luis Coastal Unified School District’s Director of Food and Nutrition Services, Erin Primer, joined the Be Well By Kelly Podcast to share their experiences in transforming school food. Listen to

Behind the Scenes with Three Eat Real School Districts
One of the favorite parts of our jobs at Eat Real is getting the opportunity to visit the schools participating in our certification program. Recently, our team made three trips across the Bay Area to see first-hand how School Nutrition Directors across the region are transforming school food. We also had the good fortune to

Eat Climate Change: Eat Real CEO Nora LaTorre’s First TEDx Talk is Live!
Did you know that the most powerful tool we have against climate change is right at our fingertips? Your fork and how you choose to use it can make a huge difference in the global fight against the climate crisis. Eat Real is working to address both climate change and our child nutrition crisis by

Regenerative Agriculture for Human and Planet Health
We know that agriculture significantly impacts the environment; we need land and resources to provide food for all. Fortunately, we can decide what that impact will be. By focusing on the sustainability of agricultural practices, we can not only reduce its effects on the environment but also ensure that agriculture has a positive impact on

What Our Schools Can Do for Our Children’s Health
Food is medicine, and what we eat can significantly improve our health. As students eat a significant portion of their daily calories at school, school meals are an incredibly effective tool for improving children’s nutrition and health

Meet Eat Real Cohort 2022
Eat REAL’s fourth cohort represents 118,800 students in California. This cohort represents the diversity of the state and is led by inspiring Directors working to raise the bar for school food.

Giving Tuesday – Creating the World We Want
Next Tuesday, November 29, is the Global Day of Giving. This day is important because it allows us the opportunity to take a step back and reflect on what matters to us, what kind of world we want to live in, and how we can get there during this season of gratitude. Giving Tuesday is

School Meals are a Climate Solution
There are nearly 50 million students enrolled in almost 100,000 public schools across the nation. These students eat a significant portion of their daily calories at school and with Universal Free Meal programs expanding, schools meals are a powerful way to shift our food system. Every day, we have the opportunity to invest in the

San Luis Coastal Unified School District is Eat REAL Certified!
Eat REAL is excited to announce San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) is Eat REAL Certified! Located in San Luis Obispo County, SLCUSD is the second district to achieve certification at the Silver level.

“Be kind. Be useful.” – President Obama. And other takeaways from Klick Health IDX Conference 2022
Leerom Segal, Klick Health Co-Founder, and Chairman + Former U.S. President Barack Obama Emily Fowler, Eat Real Champion Rich Levy, Klick Health Chief Creative Officer + Emily Fowler, Eat Real Champion The much anticipated return of #KlickIDX was an energized balance of cutting edge science & engaging human experience that culminated with an hour-long fireside

Eat Real at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
This was a big week in Washington D.C. for creating nutrition security in America. The important convening of scientists, politicians, nutrition and health experts, chefs, and food industry innovators couldn’t be more timely – as inflation rises, the average price of a bag of groceries increases daily.

Human Biography: In Dialogue with Nora LaTorre
Eat REAL CEO Nora LaTorre sat with Sharad Kharé on the Human Biography Podcast to talk about Eat REAL, our work, and the deep systemic food system issues facing our nation today. The conversation focuses on Eat REAL’s role in expanding access to nutritious food through schools. In addition to the award-winning certification program and

Why We Support Increasing Regenerative Organic Practices
Regenerative Organic Agriculture is an approach to food and farming systems that focuses on soil health, conserving water, sequestering carbon, and promoting biodiversity. It overlaps with organic practices, which means no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, etc. Many different practices can be considered “regenerative,” and different soil types, geography, or climate may require other

The School Food Project at Boulder Valley School District Becomes First School to Receive Silver Certification
Eat REAL is proud to announce that Boulder Valley School District’s (BVSD) School Food Project in Boulder, Colorado, has again achieved Eat REAL Certification. BVSD is a model for school food service, nationally recognized as a trailblazer in school food programming.

Eat REAL, Communities Unlimited inc, and Healthy Flavors awarded 2022 USDA Farm to School Grant
We are proud to announce Eat REAL, Communities Unlimited inc, and Healthy Flavors are recipients of a 2022 USDA Farm to School Grant. Together, we will develop a blueprint and a stakeholder/collaboration map for strengthening farm to school programs in the Mid-South. You can read more about this competitive grant and the partnership that will expand

First Partner of California Visits Eat Real Partner San Luis Coastal Unified School District
Eat REAL partner school San Luis Coastal Unified School District(SLCUSD) hosted First Partner of California, Jennifer Siebel Newsom for a farm-to-school tour and school garden lunch last week. Guests were invited to learn about how the district integrates lunchroom initiatives with education for students. The food service team at SLCUSD, led by Food Service Director

Farm to School Reinvents School Food
Farm-to-school programs have become increasingly commonplace in the past few years. These programs encourage schools to look locally when sourcing ingredients for meals. Although school meal programs have historically faced strict requirements and regulations, various policy changes (some influenced by the COVID-19 supply chain disruptions) have recently allowed schools a bit more flexibility, which further

Eat REAL Receives $25k grant to Deepen Work in Monterey County
Eat REAL has received a $25,000 grant from the Stephen and Madeleine Conran Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CMFC). This is the second year running that we have received generous support from the foundation. The grant will support deepening our presence in Monterey county and anchoring our work to increase nutrition access

Listen Now: Eat REAL CEO, Nora LaTorre on Levels Health
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iyt8QT6lqc Eat Real’s CEO and K-12 Program Founder Nora LaTorre joined LEVELS CEO & Co-Founder Casey Means on the Levels podcast to discuss Eat Real’s policy/advocacy, awareness building, and K-12 food system transformation work. They discuss why schools are one of the best levers out there for fighting the children’s health crisis and climate change.

Celebrating Farm to Summer Week!
Eat REAL is celebrating the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Farm to Summer Week this week! Farm to Summer focuses on local food sourcing, and fun food and nutrition education for kids. This celebration creates an excellent opportunity for Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators to engage with kids and parents by enjoying local and seasonal

Accelerating Farm to School Regenerative Organic
On a beautiful sunny day surrounded by rolling hills and endless green pasture filled with over 100 types of native grasses, Eat REAL hosted a group of leaders who all share a common goal: making schools the largest purchasers of regenerative organic food.

Reducing Food Waste at Scale through School Meal Programs
Food waste is one of the biggest problems impacting climate change today. Not only do the agricultural inputs that are required to produce food like water, energy, and fertilizers go to waste when food is discarded, but wasted food emits greenhouse gases in landfills. In developed countries like the US, it mainly comes at the

Eat REAL Certification is a Climate Solution
The American public school system is made up of over 97,000 schools serving more than 50 million children, making it the largest restaurant chain in the country. The combined buying power, distribution, and influence on the next generation has great potential to shift the food system to support our planet instead of damaging it. Our

Supporting School Meals for a Healthier Planet
This Earth Month, help us raise $100K to help school districts take climate action at scale and engage + inspire children.

Eat REAL Visits Four Districts Leading School Food
Our team paid a visit to leaders at Vacaville Unified School District, North Monterey County Unified School District, Morgan Hill Unified School District, and Walnut Creek School District, touring cafeterias, and sitting down with directors, staff and students to learn about their programs’ challenges, wins, and what they hope to achieve in the future.

Show a Little Love for School Breakfast!
Up to 50% of a child’s daily calorie intake comes from meals consumed at school. For the majority, their first meal doesn’t come until lunch. School breakfast has seen a rise in participation since the pandemic, and in states that have passed Universal Meals permanently, we will continue to see participation increase. Children who start

Building Healthier Communities Together
Raley’s Visits Eat REAL Cohort School in Vacaville Unified School District

Thank You School Food Heroes!
Last month we wanted to show a little love for our #SchoolFoodHeros and sent out care packages with the help of our friends at Patagonia. Help us take a moment to say THANK YOU to our district food service leaders! Share this post Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin Share on pinterest Share

Bay Area based Nonprofit Launches Coinbase Inspired QR Code for a Cause…
Eat REAL saw a 600% impact growth 2019-2021! Our program reaches over 200k students in 350 schools, increasing access to delicious, sustainable, and healthier real food.

Sugar Taxes are Helping to Reduce the Consumption of Sweetened Beverages
In recent years, city-wide soda taxes have been a hotly debated battleground. Public health advocates are frequently in support with the hope of minimizing sugar consumption, while the beverage industry has fought hard to prevent the damage to their bottom line. Others have also argued that the taxes are ineffective and unfair. However, a recent

Understanding Supply Chain Disruptions in School Food
Supply chain disruptions are causing food shortages across the United States, and schools are struggling to source the ingredients they need to serve nutritious meals.

Challenging commonly held beliefs about inequity, the nutrition gap, and food apartheid
In her new book, How the Other Half Eats, sociologist Priya Fielding-Singh delves into food inequality in the United States. The book is the culmination of years of in-depth ethnographic research. The author interviewed 160 families across the demographic spectrum and closely embedded herself with four of those families. It includes discussions of how people’s

The Truth About Our Ultra-Processed Food Reliance
Eat REAL’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Robert Lustig contributed to a cover page Newsweek story. In an attempt to garner more awareness and incite urgency around the state of American health, the cover story highlights the devastating repercussions of our ultra-processed food-dominated diet. The time to prioritize real food in America was yesterday. Advancements in

Meet Eat REAL Cohort 2021
Eat REAL’s 3rd cohort represents over 76,413 students in California. Partially funded by a grant awarded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture as well as the generous support of our Eat REAL community, these districts have begun their Eat REAL Certification Journies. Capistrano Unified School District Capistrano Unified School District (@capofood) serves over

It’s Giving Tuesday!
Today is Giving Tuesday, the largest global day of generosity! As we kick off this season of giving, we would like to share our thanks for the support of our Eat REAL community. Because of your gifts, we welcomed another cohort of school districts and continued to expand our program to reach over 200,000 students.

Eat REAL Presents, Good Mood Food
An expert panel discussion on the connection between food, gut health and brain health.

Eat REAL and the YMCA team up for the #7DaySugarChallenge
Join thousands of others in the YMCA and Eat REAL challenge to find out just how powerful real food can be!

Change is on the Menu!
Eat REAL hosted First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom on a school lunch visit with students at Vacaville Unified with Mount Diablo Unified School District and North County Monterey Unified School District.

The Importance of School Meals
The school bell rings, students are heading to class. They should be bright, fresh, and ready to learn, but instead, many are having trouble staying focused and awake. Money’s been tight at home, and the fridge was empty this morning. For the third time this week, the day begins with an empty stomach. Child Hunger

Systemic Food System Changes Can Protect Our Children’s Health
Our children are eating more ultra-processed foods than most people realize, and the poor design of our food system is to blame.

The Eat REAL Model Works for Everyone
We learn many life skills in school over the 12 years spent there that prepare us for adult life. Outside of the standard subjects like Math, Science, History, English, we learn soft skills like social skills, problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking. However, our education rarely covers nutrition and fueling our bodies – even though students

Fight Climate Change with Sustainable Food Production
Global food production is intrinsically linked to climate change – both under threat from it and as a leading contributor.

Why Universal Free Meals at School is a Crucial Public Health and Social Justice Move for California and the Nation
Expanding Universal School Meals for All is a massive win for public health and social justice. California is now the first state to provide free meals to all public school students. The final state budget approved by Governor Newsom and passed by the state legislature this week will cover the costs of offering breakfast and

Eat REAL Certification Works to Regenerate our Planet
Climate change is accelerating, and nearly ¼ of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from food production. But, not all food production is created equal. Real food that’s grown locally using climate-friendly practices can not only limit the negative impacts of food production but can help regenerate the environment. Eat REAL Certification is a change

Eat REAL is an Eat the Change Grant Recipient!
We are proud to announce we have been awarded a competitive $15k grant from climate-friendly food champions, Eat the Change Impact. This grant will support our work in helping schools create more climate-friendly menus. Eat the Change Impact is the foundation of climate-friendly food company Eat the Change. The foundation awards grants to support organizations

Eat REAL Bikeraiser Raises Funds to Remove 1M Pounds of Sugar from School Meals
Miguel Villarreal, Eat REAL Board Member and school food visionary, celebrated his retirement after 40 years as a public school Foodservice Director by dedicating a bikeraiser to Eat REAL this weekend. He rode up Mt. Diablo on Sunday, August 1st, with 10 pounds of sugar strapped to his bike – the amount of sugar Eat

Universal Free School Meal Programs Gaining Momentum Across Country
Children need access to nutritious meals so they can learn, thrive, and grow. Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality for millions of families across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated hunger and food insecurity while shining a spotlight on the inequalities in our food system – however, it also exemplified the power school meal programs have

Spring 2021 School Food Service Leader Survey
The 2020-2021 school year was unprecedented. We are beyond impressed and inspired by the ability of schools across the nation to adapt and find creative solutions to problems never faced before. From day 1 of shelter-in-place orders and shutdowns, schools jumped into action serving millions of meals 100% free of cost to any child 18

CA is the first state to provide free school meals for all!
Today, California made history with a huge step towards increasing child nutrition access and ending child hunger. Governor Gavin Newsom signed in the new state budget today including funding for permanent free school meals for all K-12 students. “Today… California! Tomorrow… the nation. Huge congratulations to the massive community of passionate advocates and leaders who

Farm to Summer Celebration Week
This week, Eat REAL is celebrating the California Department of Education’s Farm to Summer Celebration Week! Farm to Summer is all about sourcing local foods and teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition. Thank you to all the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option operators who facilitate this week of learning and healthful farm-fresh

The Power of School & Summer Meal Programs
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated hunger and food insecurity across the country and shined a spotlight on the inequalities in our food system – it also expanded awareness around the power of our existing child feeding programs. With the help of USDA waivers, schools expanded their services to provide free meals to all students. Many

The Rise In Summer Food Insecurity
Summertime hunger is consistently a problem for the 22 million children who rely on free and reduced-price school meals for most of their nutrition and caloric intake. As schools come to a close this year, the likelihood that hunger will increase is even greater due to the growing food insecurity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrating our Schools
As the school year comes to an end, we’ve been reflecting on what has been one of the most unprecedented school years. We have never ceased to be impressed and inspired by the ability of our schools to adapt and find creative solutions to problems never faced before. This year also brought new insight into

Eat REAL Philanthropic Leadership Board
“Better Together” is a deep-rooted value for our organization. We know that the more support and voices we can gather, the faster we can accomplish our mission, and the sooner we can raise awareness that real food can help solve our human and planet health crises. In 2020, we expanded our community and the movement

Happy Mother’s Day from Eat REAL
For Mother’s Day, Eat REAL would like to thank all the moms, mother figures, and caregivers for all you do – this year more than ever. Moms have risen above and beyond, taking on childcare, becoming homeschool teachers, carrying the weight of increased domestic responsibilities, and keeping their families fed during a global health pandemic.

JAMA study shows that the healthiest meals children receive come from school. Here’s what it means.
School meals have the power to change the trajectory of our children’s health for the better. The JAMA Network published a study analyzing the diets of adults and children over the course of 15 years (2003-2018) to determine the greatest increase in diet quality both among age groups and food sources. The sources analyzed included

Real Food Nurtures Our Health and Regenerates Our Planet
Real food is key to building a healthy and vibrant future for our children and their environment. Eat REAL defines real food as whole foods, prepared healthfully and sourced sustainably. We help schools transform their foodservice programs so they optimize nutrition and minimize environmental impact. Real Food For Our HealthWhen we eat real food, we

Eat REAL Awarded $242k Grant from CA Dept of Food and Agriculture
Eat REAL has been awarded a Farm to School Incubator Grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Farm to Fork. Eat REAL is proud to be part of a select group of organizations and school districts to receive this highly competitive grant. The grant will allow Eat REAL to replicate and

Celebrate Earth Day with Eat REAL
April is Earth Month, and this Thursday, April 22nd, is Earth Day! The theme of Earth Day 2021 is Restore Our Earth™ and will consist of three days of climate action. We love celebrating Earth Day because it underscores the work we do all year to create a more sustainable world and restore our environment.

Becoming a Real Food Advocate
Real, whole foods grown with environmentally conscious practices are vital for people’s health and our planet. Eat REAL’s work and the real food movement are centered around creating equitable access to real food and supporting regenerative food production for our planet. Good health starts with real food. The real food movement is growing, and we’re

Celebrate World Health Day With Real Food
Every year, the World Health Organization celebrates World Health Day on April 7th. A year into the global COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s celebration is focused on ‘building a fairer, healthier world for everyone.’ The pandemic has led to a rise in poverty and food insecurity exacerbating health inequalities worldwide and in the United States. Good

Eat REAL Supports School Meals for All SB 364
***UPDATE 4/7/2021
The School Meals for All Bill 364 has passed with unanimous bipartisan support in the CA senate education committee! This is a big step towards creating a more healthful and equitable food system for all California children.

Redesigning our Foodsystem
We talk about “redesigning a more equitable food system” a lot. It’s at the heart of Eat REAL’s mission and how we will accomplish our goal of increasing our kids’ health and creating a healthier planet. Our food system isn’t necessarily “broken,” it works as it was built to. Unfortunately, it was built on a

Free School Meals Lead to More Successful Students
Two new reports suggest that having regular and stable access to healthful food has a massive impact on a student’s performance in school and on tests. The findings underscore the link between food access and children’s ability to succeed long-term into adulthood and access opportunities to advance their economic standings. The first, a study from

National School Breakfast Week
This week is National School Breakfast Week! We are celebrating the schools and programs dedicated to helping students begin their day nourished and ready to learn. National School Breakfast Week is celebrated in March of each year and brings recognition to a program so important to our children’s health. The National School Breakfast program has

Hacking The Aging Clock: Longevity Starts in Childhood
A recap of the fascinating Donor Lightning Session, Hacking The Aging Clock: Longevity Starts in Childhood, that featured a presentation by Eat REAL’s Chief Pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, in conversation with Stephanie Erazo, CEO and Health Entrepreneur + Eat REAL Philanthropic Leadership Board Member.

Eat REAL Clubhouse Conversation – ”Hacking the Aging Clock: Longevity Starts in Childhood.”
The night before our Donor Lightning Session, we gathered with an incredible mix of people on Clubhouse to discuss Hacking the Aging Clock: how Longevity Starts in Childhood. Here is just a peek at what we covered, along with some of the incredible knowledge shared by the group. I hope to “see” you on the

March Donor Lightning Session
Hacking the aging clock: Longevity starts in childhood.
The latest on nutrition & aging, top questions on Covid-19, and Eat REAL’s trajectory

Food System Justice Is Racial Justice
When it comes to the U.S. food system, healthful options have become a luxury that millions of Americans don’t have access to or cannot afford. This food insecurity disproportionately affects BIPOC communities due to long-standing structural racism, discriminatory policies, income disparities, and limited economic opportunities. The levels in which our food system needs to be
What Kids Eat May Have Lasting Effect on Gut Health
We know that eating nutritious, real foods is good for our health and that a diet full of ultra-processed foods can lead to many chronic health conditions. A new study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside, indicates that what kids eat during childhood could have lasting effects on their gut microbiome health well
Food Justice and COVID-19
Eat REAL is proud to be featured in Mother Jones’ recent article “How the American Diet Turbocharges COVID-19.” Our chief science officer, Dr. Robert Lustig, spoke with the magazine about how processed food-related diseases exacerbate the COVID-19 virus. “We’ve known that processed food is dangerous, but we’ve always assumed it was for chronic diseases,” says

Our Impact In Action
Eat REAL donates 3,200 meals to Bay Area families in the Canal Community before Holiday Break

Our Kids Deserve Better: The Latest USDA Proposal is a Major Setback for Child Nutrition
During a health crisis, all kids deserve healthier meals at school yet the recent USDA proposal puts our kids’ health at risk

Support Real Food Access for Children this Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving, and this year, falls on Tuesday, December 1st. It’s a moment amid the holiday season that showcases the power of people coming together to do good by supporting the causes they are passionate about, either financially or by sharing their message to amplify the mission. By supporting

Building a Healthier Planet for our Children
2020 has been a challenging year for all – As we head toward the holiday season and end of the year, Eat REAL is taking time to reflect on all that we are grateful for, the amazing work we have accomplished, and our exciting plans for 2021. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the passionate

Healing Communities With Real Food
As our country comes together in a time of healing, Eat REAL helps communities by working with schools to increase real food access for children. Our certification program teaches the importance of healthful food and aides schools in transforming their meal programs so that all children can access real, healthful foods. The healing power of

Made From Scratch: Healing Our Bodies and the Planet
Meals made from scratch with nutritious, real food ingredients are better for our health and the health of our planet. Processed foods are energy-intensive to produce and often contain chemical additives that can harm human health and the environment. They are commonly packaged in plastic that ends up in landfills where it pollutes the planet

Limiting Added Sugars to Improve Your Health
Reducing added sugar in your diet is an effective way to improve your metabolic health and reduce your risk of developing processed food-related diseases.

Tackling Children’s Hunger with School Meals
Hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity continue to rise in the United States as the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences rage on. School breakfast and lunch programs are critical for feeding children during the crisis as they serve more than 141 million meals each week. For millions of children, school meals account for up to

National Farm to School Month
We’re celebrating National Farm to School Month to encourage systemic changes to our food system so that all children have access to real, nutritious foods critical to their overall health and wellness.

Mt. Diablo Unified School District Achieves Eat REAL Certification
Eat REAL is pleased to announce that Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) has completed their two and a half year journey to becoming Eat REAL Certified. Located in Contra Costa County, CA, the District is made up of 52 schools serving over 31,000 students. MDUSD worked hard to overcome numerous challenges through a rigorous

National School Lunch Week
Today begins National School Lunch Week, celebrating our school heroes and the essential programs they manage. Amidst a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, school meal programs are now more important than ever. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) serves nearly 30 million children every school day. With unemployment continuing to rise, these meals have become

Eat REAL COVID-19 & Nutrition Alert October 2020
JOINED BY REAL FOOD ADVOCATE CHEF DOMINIQUE CRENN NONPROFIT EAT REAL ISSUES ALERT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION IN THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19

Staying Healthy in a Broken Food System.
Our broken food system has led to an obesity epidemic and left millions of Americans with chronic food insecurity. Poor diet and diet-related illnesses are not the results of bad individual choices – inequitable access to healthy food is to blame. Millions of Americans cannot afford fresh produce and high-quality proteins due to economic oppressors

Fight Climate Change with Your Food Choices
The food we eat is one area of our lives where small choices can make a massive impact.

Protect School Food Heroes During COVID-19
School food service professionals have been essential in feeding America’s at-risk youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of children rely on school programs for the majority of their nutritional and caloric intake. Our school food heroes facilitated summer meal programs throughout the pandemic and are now working to deliver these vital meals in remote and

SHIFT:TECH Tech for Good Virtual Conference
“Be a force for good for the people you wish to serve.”
–Nikkia Reveillac, Head of Research at Twitter

School Meals During Remote Learning
School meal services are more critical than ever as food insecurity grows due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. With many kids going back-to-school in a remote learning environment, fewer at-risk students are receiving school meals. 96% of the school foodservice providers Eat REAL surveyed believe that food insecurity is increasing, while 81%

USDA Waiver Extensions – What does it mean?
The United States Department of Agriculture has extended waivers to provide free meals to all students 18 and under through December 2020. The welcomed action is in response to growing food insecurity due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. 100% of the foodservice providers we surveyed agree that universal school breakfast and lunch

Fight Food Insecurity with Access to Healthy School Meals
Basic nutrition is a human right that all children in America deserve. The recent New York Times Magazine article, “America at Hunger’s Edge,” highlights the broken system – exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic – that leaves millions of Americans with chronic food insecurity. Access to healthful food has become a privilege that one in eight

Eat REAL 2020 – SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE PROFESSIONAL SURVEY
The COVID-19 CRISIS GOES BACK-TO-SCHOOL:
Universal School Lunch, Increasing Food Insecurity, Budget Impacts of COVID-19
Among Top Concerns for School Food Service Providers

Investing in school nutrition would fight hunger, racism, and COVID-19
Eat REAL Board Members Tesha McCord Poe and Dr. Alan Greene’s Op-ed feature in Fast Company.

The Farmlink Project’s First School Delivery!
Originally Posted on The Farmlink ProjectBy Olivia Groell August 25, 2020 On August 5th, The Farmlink Project and Eat REAL worked together to launch The Farmlink Project’s new initiative of “students helping students.” This is how Nora LaTorre, CEO of the public health nonprofit organization Eat REAL, described the concept of college students facilitating the

USDA Extends Free Meals for Kids Through December 31, 2020
The USDA announced the extension of free school meals for all children through Dec 31, 2020

Optimize Your Immune System by Eating REAL
https://youtu.be/k7UXuGPuC_g Optimizing your immune system is the metabolic version of “work smarter, not harder”. As Dr. Greene talks about in his video above, by feeding and treating your body right you allow your immune system to really focus on keeping you healthy and protecting your body against harmful viruses and other pathogens. He offers 4

Eat REAL Impact Update, August 2020
It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of another month. The world is full of uncertainty and difficulty, but our team is focusing and working harder than ever on Eat REAL’s model to nourish and heal our communities and planets. COVID-19 Support Program To date, we’ve connected a network of 2,067 schools/ 85

The Importance of School Meals
For millions of children across the country, school meals contribute up to 50% of their daily caloric intake. The impact these meals have on their development and day to day health is even more significant than previously thought. In 2013, the Obama-Era Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act went into effect. This legislation increased the nutritional

Eat REAL Virtual Volunteer Summer Internship Program
The launch of our Summer Virtual Volunteer Intern Program was an incredible success, furthering our community engagement and shaping our youth outreach program. Six interns joined us to create educational social media campaigns for their peers, inspired by the Eat REAL standards. Their projects highlighted the importance of eating real whether through incorporating more plant-based

Eat REAL + Bay Area School Foodservice Directors COVID-19 Zoom Meeting
Five Northern California School District Food Service directors and teams met with our team to discuss current challenges, collaborate on solutions, and work together to ensure their students would continue to have access to nutritious meals throughout the upcoming school year.

Eat REAL Summer Intern Program Sneak Peek: Motivational Workshop with Dr. Riva Robinson
Kicking off the final week of our intern program, guest speaker, Dr. Riva Robinson led our intern cohort through an inspiring conversation of self-value by outlining her five truths she wished she’d known as a young adult. We appreciate how she takes a holistic approach to health integrating healthy eating, active lifestyle, mindful moments, connections,

Eat REAL and Farmlink Partner to Bring 9.5 tons of Organic Produce to MDUSD Community
NONPROFITS EAT REAL AND FARMLINK PARTNER WITH MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT & USDA TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 19,040 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED.

Show us your masks!
Eat REAL’s Dr. Alan Greene walks through masks safety and tips to ensure you are wearing and using your mask properly. We also have an exciting update on our mask distribution program!

Black Lives Matter
Black lives matter. We stand for equality and justice. Racism and ignorance are never okay. We will listen, learn, stand up, and do the work necessary together to create lasting change.

Eat REAL, a Women-Led Organization, Awarded a $10,000 Grant by Visa and IFundWomen
Grant provides an opportunity for Eat REAL to increase safe food access for low-income communities during the COVID-19 crisis

Moms & COVID-19
Food Insecurity
Moms and mother figures around the country are achieving what can seem impossible during this pandemic. We at Eat REAL, are making sure they know they have other options. You can help by donating today.

Impact Update May 2020
You’ve helped us deliver thousands of masks per week to frontline workers and volunteers in a network of >1,500 schools – thank you!

Thank You School Lunch Heroes!
To all foodservice staff across the nation, THANK YOU. You are keeping families fed. You are ensuring that when schools are able to open again, students will be healthy and ready to learn.

Eat REAL is a 2020 World Changing Idea by Fast Company Magazine Award Winner
Eat REAL Certification in Schools is named as a 2020 World Changing Idea Finalist in the Food Category by Fast Company Magazine. Eat REAL is thrilled to be recognized and to be among other visionary organizations.

IG LIVE: Top Chefs, Athletes, and Artists are taking over Eat REAL’s Instagram
We are all about inspiring families to boost their immune systems through healthy eating. Now, more than ever is the time to get in the kitchen, try new things, and celebrate the joy of cooking. To help bring that inspiration and fun, we’re excited to announce that over ten incredible chefs, artists, athletes, and companies

Eat REAL, a Women-Led Nonprofit, Awarded a Grant from Visa and IFundWomen to further its impact during COVID-19
Eat REAL is honored to receive one of four Visa and IFundWomen Grants for Women-Led Small Businesses.

Design Thinking During COVID-19
We believe in the power of design thinking. We’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is for COVID-19 relief efforts. Learn how we leveraged design thinking to launch the #RainbowTacoChallenge in partnership with IDEO here: https://www.ideo.com/post/help-promote-food-access-for-families-in-need Share this post Share on facebook Share on google Share on twitter Share on linkedin Share on pinterest Share on

Eat REAL’s #RainbowTacoChallenge Promotes Food Access, Joyful Cooking with Colorful Foods, and Social Connectivity
Dozens of celebrity chefs, athletes and artists join in and voice enthusiastic support for the initiative, which officially kicks off on ‘Taco Tuesday’ — April 14

Wear a Mask Like a Pro
Learn simple tips and tricks from Eat REAL’s Chief Pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, in this Mask 101 video.

Eat REAL Helps School Heroes Safely Serve Half a Million Crisis Meals to Kids Every Week
Equipped with protective gear, guidance and support, essential front-line workers can safely serve meals to millions of kids that depend on school meals during the COVID-19 crisis

Make sure kids can eat by keeping school heroes safe
In less than 2 weeks, we’ve helped half a million meals be served safely to low-income and suddenly no-income families through our new Protect School Heroes initiative.

Letter From Our CEO
March 2020
The proposed standards are still in the public comment period. For the next two weeks, the USDA will continue to collect comments before approving, amending or declining the rollbacks.

It’s Time to #DoRight
URGENT: Just last week, the USDA proposed unprecedented rollbacks to our country’s school food standards. According to these reduced standards, a hash brown is now considered a piece of fruit. Allow me to state the obvious: A hash brown is not a fruit. As a new mom, I feel an obligation to stand up on behalf of

Announcing our First Cohort of School Districts Pursuing REAL Certification!
Eat REAL’s K-12 certification program will support 185 more schools this and next school year as they continue to raise the bar towards more nutritious, delicious and sustainable meals for students