Doctor-led.
Science-backed. Foodservice-approved.
10 evidence-based standards
Eat Real certification consists of 10 evidence-based standards that measure 34 key performance indicators in a school district’s menu plans and procurement practices.
Founded and developed by doctors.
Our standards were created in partnership with leading physicians and nutrition scientists to reflect the latest research in child health, nutrition, and food systems.
“These new standards are grounded in rigorous science and reflect what the medical community has long known: prioritizing real food is essential for children’s health and development.”
— Dr. Robert Lustig, Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer, Eat Real
Informed by science.
Every standard is grounded in rigorous evidence, reviewed by experts, and designed to deliver measurable impact in real school settings.
“As a nutrition researcher who has spent decades studying how diet shapes children’s health and well-being, I deeply value that the revised Eat Real standards are grounded in the latest nutrition science. The new standards reflect what I also believe as a parent—that every child deserves access to real, nourishing food.”
— Dr. Michael I. Goran, Professor of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and The University of Southern California
Loved by Foodservice leaders.
School nutrition directors and foodservice teams across the country are proving that these standards are achievable — and transformative for kids.
“Eat Real’s revised standards strike the right balance of raising the bar while being intentionally designed to support districts of all shapes and sizes. These standards inspire our team to nourish every student.”
— Kristin Hilleman, Director of Food & Nutrition Services, Capistrano Unified School District
