How Philadelphia Schools Are Promoting Heart-Healthy Eating for Kids and Families

For many families, discussing heart health doesn’t begin until adulthood—after a diagnosis, a scare or years of habits that are difficult to undo. But American Heart Association research shows cardiovascular health is shaped much earlier than most people realize, influenced by nutrition, routine and environment at a young age.

In Philadelphia, where food security disproportionately affects children—leaving one in four city kids without reliable access to nutritious food—early nutrition education is essential.

That’s why the American Heart Association is working with the Philadelphia School District to help ensure students and families have access not only to heart-healthy foods, but also to the knowledge and habits that support lifelong wellness.

That partnership takes shape through a school-based food distribution program that brings heart-healthy foods directly to schools, transforming campuses into reliable access points for fresh, nutritious ingredients.

“As educators, we’re always looking to address an issue,” says Maxwell Akuamoah-Boateng, Director of Operations Community Schools, Mayor’s Office of Education. “It’s holistic.”

Families pick up boxes filled with seasonal produce and whole grains, removing cost, transportation and availability barriers. Paired with education and support, the program reinforces healthy habits early, when they matter most.

Food as Education

Childhood is a critical window for establishing behavior. What children learn about food—how it fuels their bodies, supports their hearts and fits into daily life—can shape their health for decades to come.

“Research shows that a lot of chronic diseases result from things we were exposed to in our diet and environment,” Akuamoah-Boateng notes.

That’s why schools—where students spend much of their day—are a natural foundation for building healthier communities.

“It’s important for us to ensure that students are getting the right food, they’re developing the right habits, and their families are able to build healthy environments,” he says.

Through support for school-based food access, the Heart Association is also strengthening nutrition security in ways that are practical and responsive to local needs.

“We’re creating alternative avenues and choices for young people to have nutritional meals year-round,” Akuamoah-Boateng says.

Parents can sign up for weekly baskets of heart-healthy foods, with no income requirements.

“You’re not necessarily getting it because you can’t afford it,” he says. “We’re encouraging people to try things they may have never seen before.”

Families also receive recipes and tips for preparing new ingredients. Exposure builds both health and confidence. “

Acquiring language around food is like acquiring a taste. It gives them a template to take risks.”

Akuamoah-Boateng recalls students who once refused apples.

“Eventually one student asked to have an apple, then another…over time, the basket they dumped apples into was empty.”

Food access and heart health challenges are complex, but with partners like the Heart Association, progress happens one school at a time.

“We’re not just serving students—we’re serving everyone,” Akuamoah-Boateng says. “If we’re going to improve health in our communities, we have to consume things that are going to be nutritional and maintain habits that help us foster, grow and pass it on to the rest of our community.”