Good food nourishes, nurtures, and sustains
the body, mind, and community
 

Welcome

Many Americans are confused about what to eat, where to buy it, and how to prepare it. Our food culture—the wisdom and cooking skills handed down from generation to generation—is under assault by highly processed food and our growing reliance on institutions to provide it. The erosion of our food culture not only makes us sick, it also denies us the comfort, the joy of discovery, and the sense of belonging that a food culture provides.

Too many children, and oftentimes their parents, don’t know how good real food tastes. The Good Food Project directly addresses this issue by bringing real food, with its incomparable flavors, into Chicago-area classrooms, after-school programs, and summer camps for children and teens to taste and explore.

We began conducting apple tastings in 2008. During an apple tasting, students try four apple varieties, and learn to use new vocabulary words to articulate how their senses of taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound work. They learn to distinguish the reasons for their personal preferences and are encouraged to pay attention to how different foods make them feel. At the end of the lesson, each student receives a magical apple slinky, made from a simple apple corer machine.

When students and teachers asked for new lessons, we added citrus tastings and summer fruit tastings. We are adding avocados and other fruits and vegetables to our lessons. And, at Sullivan High School in Rogers Park, we are working with staff and students to create a healthy food culture for everyone in the school: This project includes a student-operated fruit stand where students can buy the very best quality fresh and dried fruit at affordable prices.

 

Our Programs

Apple tastings

Apples are the perfect vehicle to introduce children to new foods. They are a national symbol of school and learning. Read more…

Citrus tastings

Oranges that are red and pink inside, zipper-skin mandarins, and strange-looking Buddah’s hands are a few of the citrus varieties kids experience in our citrus lessons. Read more…

Summer fruit tastings

Summer school and day camp programs love our fruit tastings, which take advantage of the abundance of farm-fresh local fruit. Read more…

Sullivan High School: Developing a Healthy Food Culture

The Good Food Project has been working at this Rogers Park High School for three years. Sullivan students know the names of popular, as well as obscure, apple varieties and can discuss their attributes. Read more…

Fruit Stands

The Good Food Project is working with an architect to design an adorable, portable, fold-up fruit stand that can close and lock when not in use. Read more…

Avocados

We select only healthy, delicious foods to include in our tastings. So, we are thrilled that Avocados From Mexico is on board to sponsor tastings that include awesome avocados. Read more…