Our Mission Statement
Spoons Across America,® the recipe for healthier children, is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating children, teachers, and families about the benefits of healthy eating. We work to influence the eating habits of children through hands-on education that celebrates the connection to local farmers and the important tradition of sharing meals around the family table.
Spoons Across America is dedicated to advancing food literacy for all children, with a focus on low-income communities systemically excluded from access to healthy food and food education.​
By introducing food education early, our free, hands-on programs empower children with the skills and confidence they need to make healthy food choices - setting them up for lifelong academic success and opportunity.
THE CHALLENGE
Food education for children should be a fundamental right, and yet lack of access has resulted in the health, equity, and economic disparities that many kids, families, and communities face today:
-
​1 in 5 children in the U.S. are overweight or obese​
​ -
25% of children in the U.S. are pre-diabetic
-
34% of children from lower-income households are obese vs. 19% from higher-income households
Our Solution
The #1 way to improve health and reduce illness in the U.S. is Nutrition Education & Healthy Eating. In 2018, a Cornell University study showed that children who have had hands-on opportunity to explore and prepare new and nutritious foods, are more likely to eat in a healthy way.
​
Through our food education program, Spoons Across America plays a critical role in addressing limited access to healthy food by empowering families, shifting behaviors and building long-term resilience. This is achieved through:
​
-
Nutritional Literacy: Children and parents learn what makes a meal healthy, how to read labels, and the importance of balanced nutrition. Increased awareness of the long-term impacts of processed foods and sugary drinks on health also empowers children and families to make healthier choices.
-
Behavioral Shifts: Repeated exposure to healthy foods in educational settings (taste tests, cooking demos, etc.) can shift preferences and normalize healthy eating. Children who participate in these programs often influence family eating habits at home- especially when parents are invited to participate.
-
Cooking and Meal Prep: Engaging children in the food creation process equips children with skills to prepare nutritious meals affordably and helps reduce dependency on fast food or ultra-processed meals.
-
Shopping Smart: Children in our programs share the knowledge that they have learned about how to make nutritious meals using few ingredients with their parents, which helps families learn how to stretch meals and shop wisely.
How It Works
At Spoons Across America, we believe the best approach to good nutrition is to encourage children to lift their spoons, excite their senses, and taste new and healthier foods. That is why we offer our free program to schools, after-school programs, libraries, and community organizations across the US.
​
Our various programs come with a kit that is shipped to schools and includes:
​
-
Session-by-session programs for Pre-K through 6th-grade that bring together foundational food and nutrition literacy lessons in a progressive and developmental sequence.
-
All kitchen, cooking, tasting, and serving equipment.
-
Recipes and taste tests that use a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and that are adaptable to what is locally and seasonally available in their community. ​​
-
In-class and homework assignments that initiate family meals, encourage family participation, and enrich the family eating experience.