The Real Food Challenge

Vital Stats

David S

Providence, RI

people helped20000
People Doing It 40

The Problem

In elementary school we always complained about how “nasty” the food was, but we had no idea that the youngest generation of Americans today will be the first in our nations history to have a shorter lifespan their parents, thanks to the food they eat. Our food system is driving an epidemic of diet-related disease for all Americans—while also fueling climate change, pollution, and the loss of farmland. It takes 10 calories of fossil fuel to produce just one calorie of fast food. Industrial food systems now account for up to 1/3 of all greenhouse The CDC reports that 1 in 3 American children born this decade will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Diet-related diseases now cost our economy over $300 billion a year. The result: it's hard to find a meal that doesn’t have one hidden cost or another. A 2007 study by the Kellogg Foundation found that “healthy, fair, green and affordable” food—“real food”—represents less than 2% of the overall US food economy.

Plan of Action

The primary goal of the Real Food Challenge is to transform the college food service industry by shifting their $4 billion of annual food purchases to Real Food. To accomplish this we have built a national network of young leaders who are taking action for Real Food Now at over 330 colleges, universities, and high schools. We’ve trained over 1,700 young people to tackle the food crisis—including 40 incredible student volunteers who help spread the word, organize RFC events, and support their peers (you!). Real Food organizers work with each student team—teaching them about the food system, how the school food industry works, and what we can do to change it. Together they craft a special action plan for their school. The formula is relatively simple but with the dedication of young people at our backs we’ve been able to accomplish big things. By the end of 2011 we expect to document over $150 million in new real food purchases by universities. That means more healthy food for students, more small farmers staying on the land, and a cleaner environment for all of us.