The Return of the Real Food Show

In August of 2023, one of the organizations shoppers could support through our Tokens for Tomorrow program was The Real Food Show. In December, the funds were put to good (and fun) use when we sponsored two assemblies in Skagit for first time since 2019.

The Real Food Show is an entertaining elementary school assembly designed to educate and inspire children in our community to make healthy food and lifestyle choices. Developed by our friends at Community Food Co-op in Bellingham in 2014, along with members of the Bellingham Circus Guild, the Real Food Show teaches kids about basic nutrition and exercise through a series of comedic acts, unicycling, juggling, and other goofy circus skills.

The shows are performed at no cost to the school, offered free through co-op sponsorships, and this time, your Tokens for Tomorrow. The number of performances in Western Washington now total over 125, with an audience of more than 35,000 kids. We have sponsored 20 shows in Skagit Valley, reaching over 8,000 local students.

During COVID, the Real Food Show was filmed in its entirety, so children throughout Western Washington could enjoy a circus show with a positive healthy-eating message during social-distanced learning. As kids slowly made their way back to the classroom, and we started putting our feelers out for more community outreach opportunities, we knew it was time to share The Real Food message with this new crop of students.

So in December, K-5th Grade students packed into both the Jefferson Elementary and Little Mountain Elementary school gyms, where some students attended their first assembly in nearly 4 years! Between the juggling of tennis racquets, the balancing of stacks of protein, and the riding of unicycles, kids were both entertained and educated about the importance of reading labels, eating a well-rounded, nutritious breakfast, and how to make exercise fun. Who knew?!

We are happy to revive our sponsorship of The Real Food Show, and as a shopper, this is one more way you’re giving back to the community when you choose to vote with your dollars at the Co-op. Through education, community engagement and your support, we hope to continue inspiring young people to eat real food for a better future for food and for people.

Interested in bringing the Real Food Show to your school? Send us an email at community@skagitfoodcoop.com!