Our Nutrition Philosophy

At Every Meal, we recognize that nutrition – how our bodies use the food we eat to support growth and health – plays a critical role in the physical, social, and mental development of children. We firmly believe all children deserve consistent access to nutritious, delicious, and relevant foods so that they can grow and develop to their highest potential.

Our Nutrition Guidelines, developed by Every Meal’s Registered Dietitians, inform what goes into every food bag offered. They provide concrete and actionable standards to strive towards in our food purchasing. Every Meal is committed to selecting foods that provide balanced nutrition for the children and youth we serve including, but not limited to:

• Fruit packed in 100% fruit juice 
• Foods low in sodium such as “no salt added” vegetables 
• Lean protein sources; including animal and plant based proteins 
• Whole grain products 
• Foods high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans 
• A variety of food items across bag types to provide the widest range of nutrients

Every Meal focuses on six primary components of nutrition in our Nutrition Guidelines to ensure children’s growing minds and bodies are well nourished – calories, protein, sodium, dietary fiber, fats, and added sugar.