News

True Food Kitchen gets REAL

Those that earn sufficient points in the areas of Responsible (nutrition), Epicurean (preparation), Agricultural (sourcing) and Leadership (going above and beyond) are able to become REAL Certified.

April 1, 2016

The United States Healthful Food Council, a nonprofit dedicated to making it easier to dine healthfully and sustainably, announced today that True Food Kitchen's 12 locations have become REAL Certified, a nationally recognized symbol of culinary nutrition and environmental excellence. 

"When we began developing the REAL certification program in 2012, we identified True Food Kitchen as one of the emerging restaurant brands that was demonstrating that serving healthy, sustainable food is actually good for business," said Lawrence Williams, CEO of United States Healthful Food Council.  Co-founders Andrew Weil, M.D., and Sam Fox created the menu, inspired by the principles of Weil's anti-inflammatory diet, according to a company press release.

Utilizing a points-based REAL Index, third-party registered dieticians evaluate establishments through interviews and menu, supply chain and operations analysis. Those that earn sufficient points in the areas of Responsible (nutrition), Epicurean (preparation), Agricultural (sourcing) and Leadership (going above and beyond) are able to become REAL Certified.

"REAL signifies authentic, wholesome, nutritious and sustainable food, all of which are values we take seriously at True Food Kitchen," said co-founder, Sam Fox. "To be recognized with this mark of excellence from the USHFC is not only an honor, it further underscores and validates our commitment to nutrition and sustainable best practices."

True Food Kitchen serves vegan, vegetarian, naturally organic and gluten-free options, along with dishes for those following a paleo or Mediterranean diet. In addition to responsibly sourced proteins like grass-fed beef, sustainably raised fish and select produce, True Food Kitchen uses several and nutritionally dense ingredients, such as sea buckthorn,chia and Anasazi beans and more for their vitamin- and antioxidant-rich properties and benefits, according to the release.