Nutrition is vital for our health as processed food-related diseases are the leading cause of early death, decreased healthspan, and COVID-19 complications. Millions of kids rely on school meals for up to half of their caloric intake, and programs like the National Farm to School Network help to ensure those meals are composed of real, healthy foods.
Public schools in the US serve 30 million students five billion meals each year. Improving the nutritional value of these meals can have a massive impact on the health of our children.
The National Farm to School Network connects schools with fresh, healthy food from local producers and educates students on our food system and the connection between health and nutrition. Farm to School programming is centered around nutrition education in the classroom, hands-on learning in school gardens, and exposure to local agriculture on field trips to farms. By recognizing Farm to School Month and supporting these programs, we can begin to shift our food system and ensure all children have access to real food.
In August, Eat REAL partnered with The Farmlink Project to help bring 19 tons of surplus produce from local farms to Mt. Diablo Unified School District. By connecting local farms to our schools, we can help get nutritious food to communities that need it most while supporting local agriculture and reducing food waste.
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