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Real Food For Real Kids

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Toronto, ON
Real Food For Real Kids

Experts in creating healthy, kid approved meals, embracing global culinary flavours. Catering >30 000 kids daily. Creators of
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09/30/2024

September 30th is the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, asking us to reflect on what it means to be Canadian and settlers on this land. This date is also known as Orange Shirt Day, a movement with the message that Every Child Matters. The is an organization dedicated to creating meaningful discussions about the effects that residential schools have left behind, and helping survivors on their journey of healing.

Learning more about Indigenous culture and community is just one of the steps that individuals can take to better understand the importance of having a national day of awareness. A great way to experience and learn more about a culture is through their food.
Here are some Indigenous culinary resources you may find useful:
🔸 offers delicious Indigenous-inspired recipes, from Bison Meatballs to Sweet Potato Dumplings, as well as expert food preparation tips, like properly cutting a squash.
🔸 indigenouscuisine.ca shows in various ways how Indigenous culture is shaping the Canadian culinary landscape.
🔸Visit indigikitchen.com for an online cooking show focused on reconnecting with traditional Indigenous diets using digital media.

And here are some Indigenous culinary leaders to follow:
🔸Sean Sherman, , seansherman.com
🔸Siobhan Detkavich,
🔸Elena Terry, , wildbearies.org
🔸Sheila Flaherty, , sijjakkut.ca
🔸Shane Chartrand,
🔸Jared Qwustenuxun Williams,
🔸Tawnya Brant,

09/28/2024

Real Food for Real Kids is proud to be supporting this year’s YMCA Charity 5K Run with a donation of 14 cases of fresh fruit!
Today’s event brings the community together to help raise funds to send 500 kids to camp next year. With these generous donations, more kids will get to experience the outdoors through day camp and overnight camp programming through the YMCA. They’ll get the chance to learn new skills, meet new friends and make special memories.
We love being able to provide fresh, healthy food at events that are focused on the health & wellness of kids. Good luck, runners - and thank you!

09/19/2024

Choose your own adventure! Serve our combo of hummus, sliced cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce and apple anyway the kids like!

1. Stack everything together to create our delicious Hummus & Cheddar Sandwich — our personal fave!

2. Make a cheddar & lettuce sandwich with the apples on the side for dipping into hummus.

3. Create a cheddar sandwich & a fancy side salad with the apples, hummus & lettuce.

The beauty is in the customization! Give kids the power of choice & room to experiment by serving some or all of the elements on the side.

Pro tips for serving:💡

Slice apples into discs starting from the outer edge towards the core. When you get close to the core, give it a quarter spin and continue. 🍎

Our Squash & Coconut Soup is the perfect pairing for the sandwich. Kids can use a spoon, sip straight from the bowl, or even dip various elements into their soup!

What's your child's fave way to eat this yummy lunch? comment below!

09/09/2024

To celebrate back to school season, we're honouring Lunch From Home, written by Joshua David Stein and illustrated by Jing Li. This touching tale celebrates cultural diversity through the lens of school lunches & is inspired by the real-life childhood stories of four acclaimed chefs: Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, Niki Russ Federman & Mina Park. To learn more, check out our blog at rfrk.com/lunch-from-home/

09/04/2024

At RFRK, the magic is in our menus! Meet Winnie, our dynamic Menu Planning Analyst. Working closely with our Manager of Service Design, she tackles everything from allergen requests to making the right adjustments to boost production efficiency. Winnie first joined us as a Dietetic Student, where she used her nutrition background to further shape her pivotal role at RFRK. We’re so lucky to have her on the team! Discover more about her journey at rfrk.com/meet-winnie/

09/03/2024

Happy back-to-school season from RFRK! Let’s make it one “for the books!”
This time of year is all about making new friends (or reuniting after the summer!), diving into adventures, and learning something exciting every day.
As for us, we're here to expand your little learners’ minds & palates as we whip up amazing food and continue fuelling healthy futures. But there’s even more excitement on the horizon, so stay tuned to see what the fall season has in store!

08/31/2024

It feels like we blinked and suddenly summer is already winding down! But September always brings major excitement with the beginning of a new school year and fresh & exciting things to come for fall.

From everyone at Real Food for Real Kids, we wish you an awesome Labour Day long weekend!

08/22/2024

Author Rudolfo Anaya once said “there is a time in the last few days of summer when the ripeness of autumn fills the air.” We couldn’t agree more!
Whether you’re team SUMMER or team FALL, we hope you’re enjoying the last days of the season surrounded by family, friends & of course, the delightful bounty of summer fruit & veggies. As the warm months wave goodbye, let’s greet the new season with open arms & dig into the delicious fall harvest ahead. 🌾

08/16/2024

At RFRK, we believe food literacy empowers kids to make healthy choices while celebrating diversity & connecting with their heritage.

In Seoul Food, written by Erin Danielle Russell & illustrated by Tamisha Anthony, young Hana hopes to embrace her Black & Korean roots by creating a unique dish: a blend of southern gumbo and Korean kimchi-jjigae. This heartwarming story highlights love, tradition & the beautiful fusion of two rich cultures. To learn more, check out our blog at https://rfrk.com/seoul-food/

08/15/2024

With such a complex operation, it’s super important to have a keen eye for details at the helm! Say hello to Ernesto, our Warehouse Operations Supervisor. Overseeing inventory accuracy, material handling & team coordination are just a few of the responsibilities he excels at. Starting as a member of the Sanitation Team only two years ago, we're so grateful he’s applied his hard work & dedication to grow his career with us! Discover more about his role & passion at rfrk.com/meet-ernesto/

08/05/2024

Hope you’re enjoying the sizzling summer with fun activities and great food shared with family and friends.
Have a fantastic Civic Holiday from everyone at Real Food for Real Kids.

07/09/2024

Organized & informative data helps us provide the best service to our community. Say hello to Nimra, a Data Administrator & invaluable member of our Client Experience Team. Not only does her keen eye evaluate important info & provide crucial insights, but her area of focus being kids with allergies and special dietary requirements is a top priority at RFRK! Find out more about her role on our blog at rfrk.com/meet-nimra/

07/05/2024

It’s Feel Good Friday! Every week, we’re happy to spread some good energy by donating extra groceries to the wonderful people at , an organization we’ve proudly worked with for years.
Not only does this help avoid food waste, it makes fresh, nutritious food more accessible to more people. Thank you to everyone at Good Shepherd for everything you do to help the folks who need it in our community!

07/01/2024

Happy Canada Day from everyone at Real Food for Real Kids, eh!

Whether you’re crafting, cooking, have big plans or just chilling in the backyard, we hope your day is full of joy, laughter and of course, delicious real food.

It’s also the perfect occasion to remind your little Canadians to embrace the values of inclusivity, diversity and respect for the land we call home.

06/27/2024

Introducing our newest, scrumptious sensation: the Apple-Beet Loaf!

Crisp apples meet earthy beets in this vegan-friendly snack. It combines the flavours of these two whole foods, using nature's sweetness to make it delicious & stand out from other baked goodies. Great nibbles that showcase fruits & veggies are near & dear to us and we love when they're the stars of the show rather than hidden ingredients. Not only is this luscious loaf yummy, it’s a visual feast for the eyes too!

Perfect in the morning or for anytime munching, this loaf is a light, yet filling, treat. We like to serve them with some fresh fruit on the side. This time, it’s juicy pear!

06/26/2024

Struggling with picky eaters? You're not alone! Real Food for Real Kids has partnered with the ECC Learning Lounge to bring Early Childhood Educators an invaluable session on managing the challenges of feeding kids healthy foods.
This FREE event will equip ECEs with tools and practical tips to make nutritious eating fun and stress-free. With insights from someone RFRK has worked with for years, the amazing Cara Rosenbloom, Registered Dietitian and author of Food to Grow On, you'll walk away with strategies that work. Hungry for this knowledge? Sign up today (https://www.anishatheecc.com/food-to-grow-on-2024-07-03) and get ready to transform those fussy eaters into food explorers!

06/25/2024

🎉 We did it! 5,000 followers! 🎉

Thank you to each and every one of you for your support. The simple kindness of following, liking, commenting, & sharing also makes you a part of our mission of enabling & inspiring a lifetime of healthy eating.

And what better time to reach this milestone than in our 20th year? With the help of the real life & social communities we’ve built over these two decades, we’ve had a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of kids across the GTHA. That’s a whole lot of healthy eating!

Your engagement makes a difference and we’re grateful to have you all on this journey with us. Here’s to more real food milestones together!

06/21/2024

Let's honour National Indigenous Peoples Day with a great book!

Learning about different cultures & building food literacy is just as important as eating real food every day. Meenunyaaka: Blueberry Patch, written & illustrated by Indigenous health researcher Jennifer Leason & translated by Norman Chartrand, offers a delightful story about a blueberry picking adventure (yum!), but it also opens a window to rich Indigenous heritage & traditions. With vibrant artwork of sparkling streams in the middle of summer & delicious bannock roasting on an open fire, captivating anecdotes, & of course, lots of blueberries, we think it nourishes the mind while embracing this important day.

Check out our blog at https://rfrk.com/national-indigenous-peoples-day-2024/ for resources like more kids books from Indigenous authors & some blueberry farms near the GTA you can visit this summer! Visit Jennifer Leason's website at https://www.jenniferleason.com.

06/18/2024

Let’s wrap up our ingredient spotlight by exploring how we use one of the most iconic veggies in more ways than one!

Beets inspire creativity in our kitchen. Sometimes we go off the “beeten” path & use them in sweet snacks, and other times we don’t “beet” around the bush & let them speak for themselves. It’s a beet bonanza over here at RFRK!

Their dark, rich purple colour & naturally sweet & earthy flavour lend to their versatility & make them perfect for our Cocoa-Beet Loaf & Apple-Beet Loaf.

They also shine in their matchstick form as vegetable dippers or in our refreshing Beet & Carrot Salad! Beets also bring bountiful benefits, like being a healthy source of fibre and potassium.

Do you enjoy this veggie as much as we do? Let us know in the comments!

06/17/2024

Do you know about our curry leaf craze?

Even though it’s tough to find, it remains one of our favourite unique herbs to use! Take a big whiff - it may smell surprisingly similar, but it's not the same thing as curry powder, which is actually a combination of several different spices mixed together. This amazing standalone plant is how we add that special subtle spice & citrus note to our Sunshine Dahl.

We love fresh curry leaves for the authentic touch it adds to our recipe, which is why we go the extra mile to find it. If you’d like to try this aromatic herb for yourself, you probably won’t find this in your average grocery store. We recommend going to your local Indian or South Asian market, where you’re sure to find more unique ingredients to try. Be’leaf’ us when we say it will be worth it!

06/16/2024

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and father figures! From everyone at Real Food for Real Kids, we hope you're enjoying this beautiful day.

06/14/2024

It’s colour by nature! 🎨🌿

To keep our fave ingredients highlights rolling, let’s talk about how we add a colour splash to lunch & snack time. We eat with our eyes first, but want bright & appealing food that still looks real, so when we add a pop of colour to our dishes, it comes from everyday pantry ingredients.

1. We use golden turmeric to add a ray of sunshine to our rich soup broths, like the Beany Noodle & Chick-a-Noodle soups. 🥣

2. Beet powder can add both purple & red tones. It adds a very slight tint of pink to our Honey Yogurt & a beautiful pop of pink to our Apple-Banana Purée.

3. Orange you glad we use puréed carrots in our Mac’n Cheese & Groovy Gravy sauces? We’ve already talked about how they add a hint of natural sweetness to our meals, but the almighty carrot is also a great way to amp up the orange factor! 🥕

Can we paint our plates with even more colourful, real food? We’d love to hear your comments! 🌈

06/13/2024

Introducing another new loaf to love! And this time, it’s got some zucchini zing!

The Cocoa-Zucchini Loaf is a fresh addition to our menu and adds even more deliciousness & variety to our snack collection. Think of it like chocolate cake but without the artificial colours, flavours & preservatives. In fact, the natural moisture from the zucchini is the secret to its amazing texture. We think everyone will be a fan!

What sets this loaf apart is that the #1 ingredient is zucchini! Instead of sneaking in veggies, we’re proudly letting the zucchini shine. Our loaves are also dairy, egg & nut-free, so even more kids can munch away!

06/12/2024

Nutritional yeast, nutritional feast!
Continuing with our favourite flavour-enhancing pantry powerhouses, let's dive into one of the top ways we avoid using too much sodium in our meals.
When we think of yeast, breads, doughs & anything flour-based may come to mind, but Nutritional Yeast (nicknamed ‘nooch’ for short) is a totally different, and naturally gluten free, experience! To enhance savoury flavours without increasing salt, it’s our secret weapon. Its cheesy taste adds delicious seasoning, and it packs a protein, fibre & B vitamins punch. We love using it in our vegan cheese sauce & Groovy Gravy.
Working with nutritional yeast is also a fantastic way to maintain our allergy & dietary standards without settling for dull dishes. It's nut & dairy-free plus vegan-friendly, so every kid can enjoy the umami goodness! Perfect for adding plant-based pizzazz, this nooch-tastic seasoning is a hit!
Do you have a favourite recipe that uses nutritional yeast? We’d love to hear about it!

06/11/2024

How’d we get that umami?! Over the years, we've compiled a pantry of unique ingredients to enhance the flavours of our meals & snacks while always maintaining our Real Food Promise. Here are some ways we say no to artificial ingredients and yes to nutritionally dense flavour elevators! Let’s start with natural sweeteners. ✨

There's no sugarcoating the facts here! We're all about using sweet-by-nature whole foods instead of artificial sweeteners to add that delicious flavour kids love. 😋

1. Raisin' the bar one bite at a time, raisins are one of our favourite natural sweeteners. You'll see them in snacky delights like the Raisin & Seed Oatie or the Coconut Quinoa Pudding, but they’re also a common addition to our culturally diverse meals, like the Filipino Beef Giniling and Garbanzo Bean Tajine. We even use them to sweeten our fresh from scratch coleslaw dressing!

2. Another top choice is maple syrup for some marvellous maple moments. Find it in our famous Maple Samurai Sauce & the balsamic & apple cider vinaigrettes. And of course, it's the way we sweeten up our custom Vanilla Maple Yogurt, and our delicious Cocoa Chic'Pea Spread!

3. But by far, our favourite way to sweeten up a main course is with pureed carrots and caramelized onions. Their sweetness is oh so good in dishes like our Mac n Cheese and our Pumpkin & Red Lentil infant puree.

What's your favourite natural sweetener? Let us know in the comments!

Address

115 Saulter Street South
Toronto, ON
M4M3K8

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

http://rfrk.com/

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Videos

THIS is Real Food for Real Kids

Wow - it’s hard to believe this video is now over 10 years old (they grow up so fast)! While so much has happened in that time, we’ve always stayed focused on our mission of enabling & inspiring a lifetime of healthy eating – and having a ton of fun while we’re at it! #realfood #realfoodforrealkids #eatrealfood #healthyfood #healthykids #kidsfood #rfrk #20thbirthday

As we reflect on the past 20 years of our mission of enabling & inspiring a lifetime of healthy eating, we ask ourselves how we’ve impacted the kids that we’ve served. To answer that, we followed up with Juliette, one of the first RFRK babies who also grew up next door to our founder, Lulu! Juliette describes the excitement of witnessing Lulu test new recipes in the kitchen and fondly remembers Mac n' Cheese as her favourite RFRK dish. Best of all, her healthy eating habits she adopted as a child have stayed with her into adulthood, guiding her food choices at university! Do you know an RFRK kid from the early days who remembers our food? We'd love to hear from you! #rfrkurns20 #Keepingitreal #rfrkbabies

Happy holidays from everyone from everyone at Real Food for Real Kids! We hope you're able to create some magical memories with those you love. #happyholidays #holidays #merrychristmas

Do you celebrate Diwali? We hope you’ve been able to make some special memories with family and friends this year. In honour of the Festival of Lights, we’re bringing back a Diwali-themed morning snack inspired by Mango Lassi! Using our custom RFRK Vanilla Maple Yogurt as the base and topped with our house-made mango sauce, this is an exciting flavour combination that everyone can enjoy. Yum! #mangolassi #mangosauce #mangosmoothie #realfood #eatrealfood #realfoodforrealkids #diwali #healthysnacks #kidsnacks

Happy 2023!

Cheers to keepin' it real in 2023!

RFRK's book picks for 2022!

Enabling & inspiring a lifetime of healthy eating goes beyond just the food we serve. Each holiday season, we get excited to share specially selected books with the community that will not only delight kids, but also contribute to a lasting positive relationship with food and healthy habits. Here are our picks for 2022: Mrs. Peanuckle’s Kitchen Alphabet. We love this series for its wonderfully vibrant artwork and playful text that introduces toddlers to an array of kitchen-themed words. A Moose Boosh. This eclectic collection of amusing poems is uniquely visualized with a mix of photography and doodles celebrating all things food -- growing it, making it and sharing it with the ones you love. La Saga des Trois Petits Pois. The hilarious saga of 3 brothers from a pea pod is as entertaining as it is educational. The adventure from farm to grocery store is a fantastic way of teaching kids where food comes from, and how it gets to our table.

RFRK's Mango Lassi-inspired snack

Join us in celebrating Diwali with a Mango Lassi-inspired morning snack! We’re combining our delicious Vanilla Maple Yogurt with our smooth Mango Sauce for a festive treat that we know kids will enjoy. Diwali, often called the Festival of Lights, symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". Leading up to the festival, people traditionally decorate their homes with oil lamps & rangolis, which are colourful artworks of beautiful patterns. Do you celebrate Diwali? Tell us what your favourite part of the festival is by commenting below! #diwali #mangolassi #realfood

If you or someone you know is interested in joining a fast growing company on a world-changing mission, we want you to join our Real Food Team! The Real Food Kitchen & Real Food for Real Kids is a family-owned business in downtown Toronto, focused on bringing healthy food to families in our communities. We’re currently hiring for several different positions across our organization, please visit rfrk.com/careers for more information. #torontobusiness #jobs #hiring #joinourteam #hiringnow #torontojobs #familybusiness #hiringnow #torontowork #realfoodkitchen #realfood #realfoodforrealkids

Happy Holidays from the Real Food for Real Kids team! We hope you’re able to spend some quality time with your friends and family as 2021 begins to wind down. Stay safe!

Hey busy parents! Back-to-school season is here -- but with help from The Real Food Kitchen (the creators of RFRK), at least meal planning can be as easy as 1, 2, 3! Whether you're looking for lunchtime solutions or need to get dinner done quick, we've got you covered with convenient, healthy meal options that are parent 𝙖𝙣𝙙 kid-approved, delivered directly to you! Visit https://realfoodkitchen.ca to start shopping now