Real Food Education

Empowering the Next Generation to Make Healthy Choices

A Single Bite was founded on the premise that young people who are educated about the difference between real food and processed food can have a better chance of a healthy future.

A classroom scene with a male teacher engaging students, sitting at desks. The students are of diverse backgrounds, some smiling and looking at the teacher. The room has white walls, large windows with curtains, and wall decorations. Fruits and vegetables are on a table in front of the classroom.

Why 7th Graders?

Each year, the Real Food Education Program reaches all Sullivan County 7th grade students, about 700 children, at a critical age—they are beginning to make their own decisions. The school program is comprised of four sessions that engage, empower, and educate young people to make healthy choices whenever possible.

Multiple paper plates with slices of bread, slices of apple, and slices of cheese arranged on a gray table, with a person wearing a black shirt and gloves preparing or arranging the plates.

The Power of a Single Bite

Over the course of our lives, we take millions of bites of food. The vast majority are not remembered. In fact, any bite that lingers in our memory does so at the percentage rate of a needle in a haystack. So when it happens, and when the memory of a single bite of food stays with us forever, it has more power than ever imaginable.

Our Four Part Education Program

  • Our first in-classroom session introduces the concept of "Real" Food versus Processed Food and empowers students to care about the food they eat and where it comes from. We ask students to take A Single Bite of food that, perhaps, they have never tried before and have a Chef explain the value behind local ingredients. ASB students have tried Trout, Beets, Halloumi, Venison, Squash, Kale. The list goes on.

    There is only one rule. You must try A Single Bite.

  • During our second session with a class, we incorporate a farm tour to make sure that students can see where Real Food comes from. They hear from local farmers and often plant or harvest food that is later used in the classroom where students prepare their own single bites.

  • Our next session takes the entire class to one of Foster Supply Hospitality's restaurants for a chef-prepared lunch, featuring local foods, where they hear from Executive Chefs and General Managers who speak about food sources, preparation, and their experience and passion around food. There is power, dignity and respect in sitting down with friends and loved ones to share a meal that has been made with love. We hope to convey that during this session. For some of the children, this may be the first meal they have had in a restaurant.

  • Returning to the classroom, we review their experiences and continue the discussion about healthy choices, focusing on local food systems and opportunities for change. We try a few more specially prepared dishes to further expand students' palettes and we wrap up our program with a challenge to every student to implement small, healthy changes into their everyday life—A Single Bite at a time. We leave with the seed planted and hope the fruit of good health grows strong.

  • Real Food Rewards is a digital learning platform introduced by A Single Bite to support our Real Food Education program.
    The app combines program-based trivia, surveys, points, contests and prizes to complement and extend learning beyond our four-part interactive sessions.

A slice of olive oil cake garnished with fresh raspberries and green herbs on a white plate, placed next to a menu with a fly illustration and a wooden surface underneath.
A dinner table with plates of roasted potatoes, greens, and pieces of cooked chicken, along with glasses of water and utensils.
A teacher standing in front of a class of students, giving a presentation about the difference between real foods and processed foods. The students are sitting and listening, some taking notes, in a classroom with white walls, a large window, and a chalkboard or whiteboard.
Children harvesting potatoes in a field with trees in the background.

We want to create positive food memories and encourage children to question the food they eat, where it comes from, how it makes them feel and make healthy choices.

Two young girls wearing camp vests and neckerchiefs stand on a gravel path outdoors, with logs on their left and green grass on their right. One girl is holding a pinecone, and both are smiling.

Our Beliefs: A Positive Relationship with Food

We believe in real food and want to inspire children to understand the difference between real and processed food.

We believe food is dignity and every person deserves to eat a wholesome meal prepared with love.

We believe in the power of sitting down at a table and breaking bread together.

We know that children are our future and believe that it is our duty to empower them with the tools to make the right choices for their future.

We believe in the importance of positive food memories.

Make an impact today

A classroom with students seated at desks, raising their hands. A teacher stands at the front near an interactive display screen, which has a presentation titled 'NOW IT'S TIME TO INVESTIGATE YOUR FOOD!' The classroom has large windows, bookshelves, and educational posters on the walls.

Our programs rely on people like you! Help us make a difference in child’s life today by donating or volunteering with us.

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