“I loved this course! It was exactly what I was looking for. The instructors were great!…I really like how the curriculum is laid out…I learned how food connects with so many other subjects and cultures. This gives us so many options to relate things back to food and give the students the opportunity to think about the world around them…I’m excited to have the continued support from the instructors. I would highly recommend this course.” – Charlene K, Culinary Instructor, Arkansas
Become a Food Educator
Food Education has the power to spark curiosity, build community, celebrate culture, and inspire lifelong healthy eating habits. It is also one of the most engaging ways to teach and learn.
Food Educator Training prepares educators to confidently bring food education into schools, community programs, and other learning environments.
Based on the award-winning Food is Elementary curriculum, this interactive training explores the connections between nutrition, culinary arts, gardening, ecology, culture, and the arts. Through engaging instruction, hands-on practice, participants gain the knowledge, confidence, and curriculum resources to create meaningful learning experiences with food.
Why Food Education Matters
We all eat. Food is a tangible, relatable, delicious vehicle for learning about the world around us. It naturally connects to science, math, art, health, history, culture, geography, environmental stewardship, creativity and pleasure, making it one of the most effective ways to create meaningful learning experiences.
What we eat matters. Food can help us grow and heal, and it can also contribute to diet-related diseases and suffering. Discovering health-promoting foods that we enjoy, and knowing how to cook and grow those foods, can contribute to a balanced diet and lifelong health.
Food Educator Training helps participants move beyond simply teaching about food. Learn how to use food as a vehicle for exploration, critical thinking, collaboration, and joyful discovery, helping learners build practical life skills while developing a deeper understanding of themselves, their communities, and the world around them.
Who is Food Educator Training For?
Food Educator Training is designed for anyone who wants to bring food into their teaching practice, including:
- PK-12 Teachers
- Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Educators
- School Nutrition Professionals
- School Garden Educators & Leaders
- Afterschool Educators
- Early Childhood Educators
- Family Childcare Providers
- Childcare & Daycare Workers
- Summer Camp Counselors
- Community Educators
- Nutrition Educators
- Homeschool Educators
- Health Educators
- Diabetes Educators
- Lifestyle Medicine Practitioners
- Nutritionists
- Registered Dietitians
- Health Coaches
- Culinary Instructors & Chefs
- Parents
- Volunteers
- Anyone passionate about food education!
No previous food education experience is required. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand your teaching practice, this training will meet you where you are.
What You’ll Learn
Through Food Educator Training, participants learn how to:
- Use food as a meaningful tool for teaching across multiple subject areas
- Facilitate engaging, hands-on food education experiences
- Teach nutrition concepts in practical, accessible ways
- Explore food through culinary arts, culture, gardening, and ecology
- Build confidence leading tasting activities and cooking lessons
- Adapt Food is Elementary lessons for your own learners and setting
- Create positive learning experiences that inspire curiosity, confidence, and lifelong healthy habits
What’s Included
Interactive Learning
- Interactive live classes
- Hands-on learning activities
- Guided discussions with fellow participants
Curriculum & Teaching Resources
- Food is Elementary
- Teacher’s Guides
- Food Education Resource Library
Professional Community & Recognition
- Food Educator Network Membership
- Food Educator Certificate upon successful completion
- 15 New York State Continuing Teacher & Leader Education (CTLE) hours for eligible New York State educators
Learn by Doing
Food education is best learned through experience.
Throughout the training, participants engage in discussions, explore the Food is Elementary curriculum, teach practice lessons in their own educational setting, and reflect on these experiences. By the end of the course, they have practical experience, not just new knowledge, that they can immediately apply in their work.
Flexible Training Options
Whether you’re an individual educator or an organization looking to train a team, Food Educator Training offers flexible options to meet your needs.
Individual Enrollment
Join an upcoming online cohort and learn alongside educators from across the country through live online classes, self-paced learning, and hands-on practice.
Book a Group Training
Food Educator Training can be delivered for schools, school districts, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, universities, Extension programs, museums, community organizations, and other groups.
Training can be customized to meet your organization’s goals and delivered:
- In person at your location
- Live online
- As a hybrid program combining in-person and virtual learning
Whether you’re preparing teachers to implement food education across a district or providing professional development for staff, we’ll work with you to create a training experience that meets your needs.
What Participants Are Saying
“I have a background in nutrition and I am successfully running a culinary instruction program based on nutrition. However, having the right credentials does not necessarily mean that I am able to impart knowledge effectively. I was looking for something that could help me enhance my skills as a Food Educator. Food is Elementary provided me with the necessary tools to become a more effective teacher. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to improve their teaching skills in Food and Nutrition to children, regardless of their level of knowledge.”
-Harmeet S, Food Educator, New Jersey
Ready to become a Food Educator?
Join a growing community of educators who are helping learners build healthier relationships with food through curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning.
Whether you’re enrolling as an individual or exploring professional development for your organization, Food Educator Training provides the curriculum, resources, and support to help you make a lasting impact.
Enroll as an Individual
Join an upcoming online cohort and begin your journey as a Food Educator.
Bring the Training to Your Organization
Empower your staff with practical, hands-on professional learning tailored to your organization.
