Children’s Food Trust
Food environments shape a child’s health long before adulthood.
Children’s Food Trust works to protect children’s health by improving food environments, raising awareness about environmental risks, and supporting early cardiovascular prevention through education, blood-pressure screenings, and community health efforts.
Why Childhood Food Environments Matter
Children encounter food systems every day in schools, stores, advertisements, and community spaces. These environments influence long-term health, eating habits, and cardiovascular risk from an early age.Children’s Food Trust supports education, prevention, and community-health efforts that help families and schools create healthier environments for children.
What We Do
Nutrition & Food Education
Supporting healthier food environments for children and families through education and public awareness.
Environmental Health Awareness
Helping families better understand environmental and dietary factors that may influence long-term health.
Cardiovascular Prevention
Encouraging early awareness of cardiovascular health through prevention-focused education and community blood-pressure screenings.
Community Advocacy
Working with families, schools, and communities to support healthier childhood environments.
Healthy childhood environments are a form of long-term public-health prevention.
Ultra-processed foods make up over 60% of U.S. children’s daily calories, and are associated with concerns including childhood obesity, elevated cardiometabolic risk, and long-term burdens on families and health systems.
School cafeterias are one of the most important public food environments in children’s lives. Improving ingredient standards and reducing unnecessary additives can help schools better protect children’s health.
Small changes in childhood can affect cardiovascular health, eating habits, and trust in public-health systems for years to come.
Press & Media
Our work on ultra-processed foods, food environments, and pediatric cardiovascular risk has been featured by national media outlets and leading medical organizations, including the American Heart Association, Endocrine Society, and American Academy of Pediatrics.For interviews, data requests, or media inquiries, please contact [email protected]
Our Research Work on Ultra-Processed Foods in the U.S.
| Research Presentation | Conference |
|---|---|
| Proposing a new ‘gateway food model’ for adolescent eating behavior and its implications for modifiable hypertension risk factors. | American Heart Association Hypertension Conference |
| An investigation of the associations between COVID-19, adolescent obesity, and ultra-processed food intake. | American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference |
| The Impact Of Covid-19 On Obesity And Ultra-processed Food Intake In Adolescents And Young Adults. | Endocrine Society National Conference |
| Proposing A New ‘Gateway Food Model’ For Adolescent Eating Behavior And Its Implications For Modifiable Hypertension Risk Factors. | American Heart Association Scientific Sessions |
Our Research Work on Ultra-Processed Foods in the U.K.
| Research Presentation | Conference |
|---|---|
| Examining the demand factors for ultra-processed foods consumption in adolescents and its implications for a sustainable future in nutrition, food, and health. | Nutrition Society Summer Conference |
| Examining the association between pediatric binge eating disorder and high ultra-processed foods consumption. | European Academy of Pediatrics |
| Examining Sedentary and Activity Status Predictors in Adolescents and Their Implications for Diabetes Prevention. | European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology |
| Examining Smartphone Use During Mealtime and Its Association With Eating Disorders Among Adolescents. | Society for Endocrinology Conference |
Our Policy Priorities
We support clear, actionable reforms that improve school food environments and empower the next generation while respecting the role of families and local schools in decision-making. Our priorities include:
Remove Harmful Additives from School Meals
Prohibit the use of food additives already banned in the UK and EU including titanium dioxide, BHT, and artificial dyes in federally funded school meals. US children deserve the same protections, especially in institutions funded by taxpayer dollars.
Bring Pediatric Blood-Pressure Screening to Schools
Support school and community programs that help children understand cardiovascular risk, identify elevated blood pressure early, and give parents clear follow-up guidance when care is needed.
Strengthen Ingredient Transparency
Ensure clear labeling of additives and food processing levels in school meals, so that parents, teachers, and local districts can make informed choices about what’s being served to children.
Get Involved
Let’s Set a Better Table
For All Our Children
Children’s Food Trust welcomes collaboration from families, educators, students, healthcare professionals, and community partners who care about children’s health and prevention.Whether through advocacy, education, volunteering, or community outreach, small efforts can help create healthier environments for children.
📩 General Inquiries - [email protected]
📰 Media Inquiries - [email protected]
🤝 Partnerships - [email protected]
🙌 Volunteer - [email protected]Mailing Address
Children’s Food Trust
3901 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6135