The California Food Literacy Center was established in July 2011 to help kids improve their knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward food through community food education. The organization empowers K-5 students to explore new foods; learn to cook healthy, sustainable snacks; and make smart choices. Students learn fruit and vegetable appreciation, how to read nutrition labels, basic cooking skills, and environmental impacts of their food choices.

The California Food Literacy Center’s efforts are yielding positive changes in perceptions of healthy food among youth. Before the organization began its food literacy curriculum, 82 percent of K-1st graders at Capitol Heights Academy said that healthy snacks did not taste good. After one month of food literacy education, 92 percent of the kids replied yes when asked the same question.

The mission of the California Food Literacy Center is to inspire change today for a healthy, sustainable tomorrow through enduring community food education.