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Food Education Center

The Food Education Standards

Pilot Light’s Food Education Standards are the country’s first comprehensive PreK-12 Food Education framework.

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Developed by a multidisciplinary team of experts, the Food Education Standards (FES) are seven educational standards that encompass the benchmarks of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to the development of a food-literate life.

First published in 2018, the updated version released in 2025 reflects current best practices for educators looking to integrate Food Education into their curriculum.

Our Standards

  1. CONNECTION

    Food connects us to each other.

  2. ORIGINS

    Foods have sources and origins.

  3. Environment

    Food and the environment are interconnected.

  4. influences

    Food behaviors are influenced by external and internal factors.

  5. health

    Food impacts health.

  6. decision-making

    We can make informed food choices.

  7. advocacy

    We can advocate for food choices and changes that impact ourselves, our communities, and our world.

Full standards guide

Praise for the Food Education Standards

“By incorporating real-world community experiences, educators are provided with practical steps to help students achieve these standards. This hands-on approach ensures that kids are actively involved in exploring and applying the Food Education Standards across various academic subjects.”

Andrea Rowe, STEAM Teacher, Austin Road Elementary, Georgia

“Pilot Light’s updated Food Education Standards will go a long way in supporting children’s connection to food in a way that uplifts their identity, fosters new experiences, and encourages curiosity.”

Renee Marcoux, SOFSA

“It’s not just that students are learning about food or a culture through food, it is that they are learning about the world through food. Pilot Light’s Food Education Standards invite educational experiences that prompt reflection, spark curiosity, and develop personal connection.”

Rachel Waugh, Founder & Executive Director of the Museum of Food and Culture

“Pilot Light’s standards offer a framework for food educators to bring a holistic understanding of food into classroom spaces—exactly what all students need to understand the possibilities of a sustainable food future!”

Meredith Hill-Patel, Founder, RootED

“With their updated Food Education Standards, children are encouraged to lean into their natural curiosity, uncovering the deep connections between food, wellness, and community.”

Alex DiNovo – President, DNO Produce, Immediate Past Chair – Foundation for Fresh Produce, Member – USDA Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee

“From their inception, these standards have empowered teachers to bring integrated food education to life, connecting classroom learning to students’ communities, including the value and quality of school meals and how they offer healthy choices.”

Katie Wilson, PhD SNS, Executive Director, Urban School Food Alliance

“By integrating lessons on nutritional status, culture, community, environment, and society, these standards go beyond traditional nutrition education—they empower students to make informed choices that benefit both their health and the world around them.”

Amy Warne, MBA, RD/LD, Manager of Nutrition and Health Programs, Partnership for a Healthier America

“What I love about these standards is how they relate to food, culture, family, and community—what really counts in promoting healthy diets.  These should make learning about food enormously enjoyable as well as useful.”

Marion Nestle, PhD, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, New York University

“Each Standard is like a stepping stone, bringing us closer to understanding and appreciating one another through a shared love of food. Every teacher, school, and community nationwide should embrace the Food Education Standards to make food a part of everyday learning for their kids.”

Chef Carla Hall