Eat Real Serves New States, Supports Thousands More Students

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eat Real today announces it is now partnering with school districts in 18 states across the United States for the 2025-2026 school year, with more to come in the spring. Through their K-12 certification program, they'll be supporting public school districts nationwide in bringing more delicious, nutritious, and planet-sustaining meals to their cafeteria menus.

With these new states, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, West Virginia, and Michigan, Eat Real will serve 800,000 students — well on its way to its goal of reaching 1 million students by the end of the 2025-26 school year.

"Foodservice directors across the country are rallying to bring more delicious, nutritious, and planet-sustaining meals to their students every day," said Nora LaTorre, CEO of Eat Real. "These heroes are transforming the way our students learn, grow, and thrive. We are beyond thrilled to stand alongside them to help our nation's kids reach their full potential."

The new states for this fall's cohort, along with all other participating school districts, will be evaluated using Eat Real's updated food nutrition standards, reflecting the latest in metabolic health, childhood nutrition, and school foodservice innovation.

Over the last year, Eat Real's K-12 Certification standards went through a year-long, evidence-based review process guided by Eat Real's Standards Advisory Committee and refined with input from subject matter experts across the K-12 school food ecosystem. The framework is rooted in the latest science on child health and nutrition, ensuring every standard reflects evidence-based best practices.

"These new standards are grounded in rigorous science and reflect what the medical community has long known: reducing added sugar and prioritizing real food with its fiber and micronutrients are essential for children's health and development. As a nutrition expert and as a parent myself, I know that these evidence-based changes will help to safeguard the next generation." — Dr. Robert Lustig, Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer, Eat Real

Over 60 public comments and extensive consultation with doctors, dietitians, farmers, educators, parents, food waste experts, researchers, and foodservice professionals helped shape Eat Real's rigorous, practical, and achievable standards — designed to improve student well-being while driving lasting food systems change.

"I joined the Eat Real Certification program because I want to show that tasty and healthy aren't opposing concepts, I want to connect with other likeminded school foodies, I want an objective analysis and road map for our program, and I want all the assistance in improving the quality of our school meals that I can get!" — Andy Pense, Department of Child Nutrition, Fayette County Schools, Fayetteville, WV

About Eat Real

Eat Real is the only national doctor-led, foodservice-approved nonprofit on a mission to put real food on the table—at school, at home, and in local and national policy. We believe every child deserves a healthy, delicious future on a livable planet, and public school cafeterias are the most impactful solution to solving America's children's health crisis.

Through our award-winning K-12 certification program, we give foodservice leaders the framework and support they need to make school menus delicious, nutritious, and planet-sustaining. Together with a community of foodservice professionals, doctors, food advocates, chefs, and parents, we raise awareness about the power and urgency of serving real food at every meal. And from the cafeteria to the Capitol, we advocate for policies and standards that ensure every child has access to nourishing food.

The cafeteria can change the future—for our kids, our communities, and our planet.

SOURCE Eat Real Certified, Inc