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Case Study

Feeding Minds and Bodies: Good Food, Good Education, Good Health

Food Forward and Brighter Bites have joined forces to elevate the power of healthy eating in LA County schools

Food Forward, an LA-based nonprofit that fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce has partnered with Brighter Bites, an organization promoting long-term health through nutrition education programs for children and families. Together the two organizations are diverting surplus produce to LA County schools while elevating the importance of a nutrient rich diet through a health and nutrition curriculum for both children and their families. 

The pilot program launched partnerships with six LA County schools, and in the 2021-2022 school year enrolled 984 families, taught 263 lessons, and distributed 113,960 lbs of produce to students and families.  As of fall 2022, the program has expanded to 11 schools.

“It’s wonderful to have a partnership with Brighter Bites. Both organizations get to combine their best skills to create a whole new level of value to our individual work, reaching more communities and correcting greater health inequities than either of us could do by ourselves,”

– Rick Nahmias, Founder and CEO of Food Forward.

As this program expands, Food Forward and Brighter Bites will continue to center access to this innovative programming in communities most impacted by food insecurity and health inequities, using food as medicine to promote lifelong good-eating habits, prevent disease, and build resilient communities. 

To learn more, visit foodforward.org and brighterbites.org.