Food is Elementary in Preschool
Learning about food early on fosters a lifetime of healthy habits.
Transforming Early Childhood Education Through Food
Ms. Cheri Millard, a preschool teacher at Mater Academy Narcoossee in Orlando, Florida, is dedicated to promoting healthy eating among her students. She was looking for an engaging way to teach young learners about nutrition but struggled to find a curriculum that made food education accessible and fun. She knew early exposure to healthy foods could shape lifelong habits, yet without a structured curriculum, her efforts felt incomplete.
That changed when Ms. Cheri discovered Food is Elementary. The curriculum gave her the tools and confidence to weave food education into her classroom in creative and meaningful ways.
Making Healthy Eating the Classroom Norm
Today, Ms. Cheri’s classroom is a vibrant learning space where fruits and vegetables are celebrated. She uses “Tutti Fruity Fridays,” where students bring their favorite healthy snacks to share, and playful incentives like “desk pets” that only ate nutritious foods. As a result, healthy eating becomes a natural part of the school day rather than a one-time lesson.
Beyond the Classroom
With her principal’s support, Ms. Cheri also leads an afterschool cooking club where elementary students plan healthy meals and run a student-designed restaurant. These hands-on experiences deepen students’ understanding of nutrition while strengthening creativity, collaboration, and confidence.
Fostering Lifelong Healthy Habits
The impact continues to trickle up, as in other Food is Elementary programs. Students enthusiastically share what they learn with their families, and parents increasingly support nutritious choices for classroom celebrations and snacks.
Through Food is Elementary, Ms. Cheri is not only fostering healthier habits, she is helping build community that celebrates food as a joyful part of learning.
If you’re an educator looking to inspire healthier habits in your classroom, the Food is Elementary program can provide the foundation and support you need. Start your journey today!
Food is Elementary in K-12 Schools
Food is Elementary integrates seamlessly into the school day, taught by classroom teachers, health educators, family and consumer sciences (FACS), culinary arts, and enrichment teachers.
Celebrating 22 Years of Impact
In 2004, Matt Hornbeck, principal of Hampstead Hill Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, was searching for a food education program as his elementary school expanded to include middle school. He envisioned a curriculum that went beyond nutrition facts to include growing, cooking, and enjoying food – hands-on learning that could shape lifelong habits.
The Challenge: Balancing Budget and Impact
Before committing school funds, principal Hornbeck wanted to see the program in action. Sustainability and meaningful outcomes were essential, especially in a public school setting.
The Opportunity: Partnering with the Food Studies Institute
Through grant funding, the Food Studies Institute (FSI) provided three years of support to help Hampstead Hill Academy implement Food is Elementary. The school became possibly the first public charter to hire a full-time food educator, integrating the program into the school day as an enrichment class alongside art, music, and physical education.
A New Era of Food Education
Today, Hampstead Hill Academy’s Food for Life program serves nearly 1,000 students from Pre-K through grade 8. Students participate in hands-on lessons in a kitchen, learning about nutrition, cooking, food origins, and kitchen hygiene. Parents continue to see the value. One shared:
“Food is Elementary should be part of every child’s weekly specials. It incorporates so much—science, culture, math, physical coordination—and teaches skills that students will use throughout their lives.”
-Parent
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Food education is now oven into the broader school community. In the afterschool Culinary Arts Club, students plan and prepare meals for Community Arts Night, a quarterly event that brings together families, staff, and students through food, art, and music.
International Night further extends this learning, inviting families, community members, and local restaurants to celebrate global cultures through food, music and dance.
Becoming a Champion of Food Education
Today, principal Hornbeck remains a passionate advocate for Food is Elementary. What began as a three-year pilot is now a cornerstone of the school’s educational offerings, strengthening both student learning and community connection.
Bring Food is Elementary to Your School
If you are a school leader or educator looking for a proven food education program, Food is Elementary can help you build a culture of wellness and lifelong learning.
Food is Elementary After School
Afterschool programs use Food is Elementary to enrich extracurricular activities, encouraging creativity and community through food exploration.
Healthy Eating After School
An after-school program director set out to help children develop healthy eating habits by tasting, exploring, and learning about nutritious foods. while the vision was clear, the challenge was real: there was no established program and limited funding.
By partnering with the Food Studies Institute, the director secured grant funding to launch two clubs – one for younger children and one for older children – bringing Food is elementary into the afterschool setting.
Tasting Adventures Club
The Tasting Adventures Club for children ages 4-6 introduces the basics of healthy eating through simple, interactive activities. The children practice hand washing and table manners while becoming confident tasters who use descriptive language to talk about food. They explore fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
Cooking Club
In the Cooking Club for children ages 7-11, students develop essential cooking skills. They practice knife safety, learn to measure and mix ingredients, and follow basic stove safety rules. Recipes travel home with students, extending learning to families.
The children not only learn about food—they gain valuable skills, confidence, and a love for healthy eating that will stay with them for years to come.
“Sammy was very excited about cooking and learning some new skills. He even tried a new food I would have never expected him to try – the black bean salsa! As a result of this class, we started teaching Sammy to cook more at home!”
– Jeanine W, Parent
Bring Food is Elementary to Afterschool
If you are an afterschool program director or educator looking for a proven food education program, Food is Elementary can help you build a culture of wellness and lifelong learning.
Food is Elementary in Family Medicine
Discover how healthcare professionals utilize Food is Elementary with patients and their families for health promotion and disease prevention.
Food as Medicine
Dr. Ana Negrón, a family physician in Pennsylvania, has long understood the connection between food and health. Yet early in her career, she felt limited by a medical model that offered few tools for supporting meaningful dietary change.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates
Making it Happen
Dr. Negrón saw that her patients needed more than prescriptions – they needed practical skills, inspiration, and confidence around food. Without a structured approach to nutrition education, lasting change remained difficult.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Negrón has hosted community cooking classes for patients and their families. Together, they cook simple, wholesome recipes and share meals that emphasize tasting, connection, and learning by doing.
The Results
Patients report improved energy, mood, and overall well-being. Just as importantly, they find joy and connection in nourishing themselves and their families. Dr. Negrón’s work continues to demonstrate the powerful role food education can play in healthcare.
“This unique program, created by Dr. Demas, has the potential of changing the health destiny of an entire generation of children. I’ve seen nothing like this in my 32 years as a pediatrician.”
-Charles R. Attwood, M.D. Pediatrician, June 10, 1995, Author of Dr. Attwood’s Low-Fat Prescription For Kids, Louisiana
Bring Food is Elementary to Your Practice
If you are a healthcare professional looking for a proven food education program, Food is Elementary can help you build a culture of wellness and lifelong learning.
