Eat Local with the Eat Real Certified Label

Gluten-free, pasteurized, organic, non-GMO foods... For most consumers, labels on food are often difficult to understand and misleading. Having made this observation, the United States Healthful Food Council (USHFC) decided to create Eat REAL, a new certification aiming at more transparency and rigor in food labelling. “The last thing any of us want to do is further confuse consumers. It’s about changing the overall food system and not just one specific characteristic of food", explains Lawrence Williams, the founder of Eat REAL.

This nationally recognized mark evaluates the healthfulness and sustainability of restaurants and other food service companies. In order to obtain the "Eat REAL Certifies" mention, restaurant owners and food producers have to go through a thorough review process carried by independent, REAL-registered dietitians. Menu analysis, invoice and supply chain verification, interviews, and visual assessments of front and back of house operations are carefully examined for each company that has voluntarily agreed to be audited. Establishments earn points on the 100-point REAL Index on which the certification is based. A minimum of 60 % is necessary to obtain the "Eat REAL Certified" label.

Eleven Nashvillian restaurants have been rewarded with the "Eat REAL Certified" label: the Old School Farm to Table, Little Octopus, Chauhan Ale & Masala House, Juice. Nashville, the Frothy Monkey, Daily Juice, Tennessee Local Food Summit, Coco Greens, Sunflower Café etc.