Food is a part of everyday life, but not many people think about it beyond a surface level. Yet, for author and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) teacher Julie Knutson, deeper questions surrounding food are often in the forefront of her mind.

For example, how does food differ among various cultures? What are the environmental impacts of the food we eat? Who has access to food?

In an effort to answer these questions, Knutson has released a six-book series focusing on civic education and food systems. Intended for sixth through eighth graders, “Civic Eats: 21st Century Civic Education in Action” grew directly out of Knutson’s curriculum at SCH and features real-world examples inspired by local schools and organizations.

Everyone can relate to food

When Cherry Lake Publishing reached out to Knutson in 2025 about writing books for the company’s civic series, Knutson identified food as a topic of interest based on prior experiences.

In 2024-2025, Knutson was a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms fellow and traveled to Senegal to work with fellow educators. During that time, she said she was intrigued by how food and eating together are so central to living. Additionally, Knutson’s curriculum at SCH’s Middle School Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership often touched on food in the context of making change.

“It’s something that I saw as a factual, tangible touch point for kids,” Knutson said. “What are the places where kids can make changes? And those spaces are in the cafeteria; they’re in the choices we make about how to recycle. So food seems like a really natural place, a very human place, and something that every kid, every person on the planet can relate to.”

From January to March of 2026, Knutson collaborated with former SCH teacher Paris Gramann to research and write six titles: “Food is Culture: Kids Build Belonging Through Food and Community,” “How Can Kids Shape the Future of Food? Innovating for a Changing World,” “How Does Food Affect the Climate? Kids Take Action for Climate Justice,” “Where Does Our Food Come From? Kids Explore Farming, Land, and the Environment,” “Who Decides What We Eat at School? Students, Power, and Cafeteria Change,” and “Who Has Food? Kids Take Action on Hunger and Food Access.”

According to Knutson, the six themes grew out of the educational standards established by Pilot Light, a food education organization. Knutson was selected as a Pilot Light Food Education Fellow for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Everyone can make a difference

Each of the books in the “Civic Eats” series is based on the model of “design thinking,” which Knutson uses in her classes. The model starts with Empathize, before leading to Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. This framework is provided to give kids a way to think about problems surrounding food and come up with possible solutions.

In the books, Knutson also uses plenty of local examples to illustrate people and organizations that are doing valuable work. For instance, she features Ally Monteiro, volunteer manager at Face to Face Germantown, as someone taking action to increase food access for community members. Knutson also features schools such as Westtown School in West Chester, which has community gardens and community dinner nights to highlight food from different cultures.

The topics discussed in “Civic Eats” vary widely. For example, one book might discuss the benefits of shopping at a farmer’s market, while another might focus on the causes of food insecurity. One book might talk about food waste and the importance of composting, while another might examine plant-based alternatives. However, at its core, each book reviews how kids can shape everyday food issues. Knutson feels strongly about this point.

“The choices [kids] make, the decisions they make — that’s great agency,” Knutson said. “I want every kid to have an access point to feeling like they have agency and to feeling like they have channels for making civic change.”

Knutson also emphasizes that change can start small. Whether it’s through building awareness, advocacy, direct action, or philanthropy, everyone can take steps to a more sustainable and equitable future.

“If you wanted to do something today or tomorrow, if it’s two for one on English muffins at ACME, buy the two and put one in a food fridge,” Knutson said. “There are a lot of small things that people can do.”

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.