Testimonials & Reviews

We had such a great experience with Real Food Academy Summer Camp! My kids absolutely loved it. They came home excited every day to tell me about what they had made and what they had learned. I especially loved how hands-on the camp was. They weren't just learning about cooking; they were actually in the kitchen making everything themselves. During the week they made watermelon mini cakes, chocolate-covered fruit skewers, fruit parfaits, nutritious pancakes, homemade pizza and pasta dough, minestrone soup, smoothies, black bean brownies, orange peel chicken, and more. One of my favorite parts was seeing how much they actually learned. They came home showing me different ways to cut fruit. They showed me dicing, chopping and making wedges. They were so proud to demonstrate their new skills, and it was really fun to see their confidence in the kitchen grow. My youngest is a very picky eater, so I couldn't believe it when she came home telling us she had the best pizza ever, the best pasta with meatballs ever, and that she ate all of her soup! 😂 This was a pleasant surprise. Seeing her excited to try foods she normally wouldn't touch was so special. Another huge bonus for us parents was that everything was included. We didn't have to worry about feeding the kids breakfast in the morning or packing a lunch. They were cooking and eating at camp. One less thing to worry about! Most importantly, they had loads of FUN! They came home happy every day and excited to tell me about what they had cooked. It's not always easy to find a summer camp that is both entertaining and educational, but Real Food Academy really delivered. I would definitely recommend Real Food Academy Summer Camp to any parent looking for a fun, interactive, and unique summer experience for their kids. We will absolutely be back! ❤️👩‍🍳👩‍🍳🍓🍕

I found this camp from FB ad while i was desperately needing a camp for the week of Aug 10 as most schools already started and there were not many camp options out there. My son came home every day with what he made at the camp, and he was super proud every day telling me that he rolled the dough, made the pasta, pan cake, waffle, etc. all by himself. The camp staff encouraged him to try things that he never ate before like zucchini and pumpkins. He told me that he ate very healthy every day at the camp, and can't wait to go back the next day to see what they are cooking. If i could give more than 5 stars, I would definitely do it!!!

This was the BEST camp! The instructors were all incredibly nice and helpful, my son was eager to go every morning, and the food they made was so great! All of the food is of real quality ingredients, and the kids are really doing the cooking! It’s a great balance of cooking things you know kids will like, and also going just a little out of what might be in their norm so they can try new things, They make themselves breakfast, lunch, and a healthy dessert snack every day. During any down time they do group activities that seemed engaging and fun. I’m telling you, my son had a blast. And he is picky about camps. Plus, he brought home leftovers for me to try that he was sooo proud of! We will definitely be signing up again next summer.

BEST CAMP IN TAMPA! Chef Michele and her team do an incredible job with the kids - making breakfast and lunch and learning life skills in the kitchen and in life. This is an incredible school and I can't wait to go back for adult parties!

My 11 yo son spent a week of summer here and loved it! He said it was his favorite camp...and we did 6 different camps this summer. The kids prepare a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack each day. He learned a lot about real food versus processed food and even prepared a full dinner for us at home to show off his skills (all by himself)! The instructors were great. They are operating out of a church kitchen in Palma Ceia until they relocate to a permanent home, but drop off and pick up was a breeze. I highly recommend Real Food Academy Tampa. We'll be back!

My kids had an absolutely amazing time!! They came home raving about the recipes they made and how they want to make those again. We can’t wait to bring them back there!

Before moving from California to Tampa, I spent a lot of time researching summer camps for my 6-year-old daughter. I was specifically looking for a cooking camp, and while there were several options in the Tampa area, Real Food Academy immediately stood out because of its focus on real, wholesome foods and healthy eating. My daughter had an amazing week at camp and came home excited each day to share what she had made. Beyond the delicious recipes, she also built new friendships and gained confidence in the kitchen. As a bonus, the camp made our mornings so much easier by providing the healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks that the kids prepared themselves. It was wonderful knowing my daughter was enjoying nutritious meals while expanding her cooking skills. We couldn't be happier with our experience and look forward to returning in the future.

My daughter and her bff absolutely loved their week with the Real Food Academy in Tampa! They’ve been more excited to cook at home than ever since they finished the camp. The lessons really left an impact as my daughter has been so much more picky, in a different way than normal, about her food and I love it! The kids learned about so much more than just cooking. Etiquette, teamwork, and knowledge are just a few! The chef instructors are warm and my daughter was always in a good mood at the end of the day. I will absolutely be signing up next summer and have already told all my friends!

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Real Food Tampa and the experience they provided for my 12-year-old son. I was initially a little apprehensive about the mixed-age group, and about my son’s attention span and willingness to participate, ,but those concerns disappeared almost immediately. He came home every single day excited to share what he had learned and eager to continue practicing his new skills in the kitchen. What surprised me most was the transformation in his attitude toward healthy eating. He has become genuinely interested in using wholesome ingredients and has enthusiastically encouraged us to incorporate them into our daily routine. That alone has made the program invaluable to our family. The instructors deserve my deepest gratitude. Their ability to connect with the students, keep them engaged, and build both practical cooking skills and confidence is truly exceptional. They didn’t just teach my son how to follow recipes—they taught him that he is capable of preparing healthy meals on his own. Seeing him excited to cook for me has been one of the greatest rewards. If you’re considering this program for your child, I recommend it without hesitation. It has given my son confidence, practical life skills, a healthier outlook on food, new friendships, and memories that I know will stay with him for years to come. Thank you, Real Food Tampa, for making such a meaningful impact on our family.

My daughters and my niece and nephew spent a week at here, and they absolutely loved it. It was one of those rare camps that was genuinely fun, catered to all their ages, while also teaching real-life skills. They came home excited every day, talking about what they had cooked and eager to recreate the recipes at home. They also learned safe knife skills to chop their own ingredients, some sautéing, spiralizing vegetables, and baking. They worked with fresh and healthy ingredients, and learned about nutrition, and the difference between real food and processed foods. Everything was super hands-on, and evidenced in Instagram reels showing the kids doing it on their own, of course, safely and with direction. It built confidence, independence, and a real sense of pride. Other perks - you don’t have to pack a lunch, they make three meals a day, and it’s a great respite from the Tampa heat and outdoor camps. It was a wonderful experience for all four kids and we’ll definitely end up back again. I believe they have adult experiences as well and offerings all throughout the school year

My son had an awesome experience!!! He came home and made lots of healthy treats with his friends

The Real Food Academy provided an outstanding experience for our campers at St. John's Episcopal School's Eagles Camp summer program! Michele and Chef Ricardo did a phenomenal job engaging our students with hands-on activities while teaching them the importance of making healthy food choices and understanding the difference between real foods and ultra-processed foods. Their energy, professionalism, and passion for nutrition made learning both meaningful and fun. Our campers were fully engaged from start to finish, and the positive feedback from both students and parents has been tremendous. A heartfelt thank you to Michele and Chef Ricardo for partnering with us and helping create such a memorable experience for our campers. We are excited to continue this partnership and look forward to welcoming The Real Food Academy back as part of our after-school clubs and enrichment programs during the 2026–2027 school year! Highly recommend The Real Food Academy to any school, camp, or family looking for an engaging and educational culinary experience!

This is our first summer with The Real Food Academy and my kids absolutely LOVE it!! They told me that this had been the best camp they have ever done! Not only are they cooking healthy and delicious food but they are learning how to make smart choices! I can' recommend this camp enough.

Our daughter attended this camp for the first time a few weeks ago, and LOVED it. Not only did she learn lifelong cooking techniques, she was given the confidence and knowledge of using healthy ingredients in everyday recipes. As a mom, I was most impressed with the counselors and staff who truly have a passion for cooking AND educating our youth. My daughter has attended a number of camps throughout the years, and this was by far one of her favorites. Thank you so much for bringing this camp to Tampa!! My daughter can’t wait to attend another session!!

I cannot recommend this enough. My kids want to go back every week LOL They have learned so much and truly enjoyed it. The staff is amazing. I can't say enough good things and their requests for junk food have decreased by a lot. Will be back every summer at least. My daughter is even asking for them for the her birthday party !

What a fantastic week my daughters had here! Winning the grand opening sweepstakes was the perfect way to begin their summer vacation! They got so much out of it—from learning more about healthy vs. unhealthy food, cooking, and more—and especially valued the hands-on experience. A HUGE thank you to everyone who made this such a memorable experience! Kudos, best wishes, and every success for the future…we know that The Real Food Academy – Tampa will do great!

This is an amazing camp! It’s not your everyday cooking camp where kids make boxed cupcakes. They teach them about ingredients, techniques and over all wellness. Instructors shop for fresh Ingredients for each class and really let the kids experience cooking and baking themselves. My son loved it so much he wants to go again next week! It is very much worth the cost!

My six year old daughter is very shy. We have put her in endless camps cheerleading art the YMCA you name it. The first day of the real food Academy she came out with the biggest smile on her face and she said this is the best camp of my life and I wanna go here forever. Every single day she would come out with a little healthy treat that she had made in class that day. They made flourless muffins. They made macaroni and cheese with chickpeas, and she truly has learned so much about nutrition and how to eat healthy and to avoid processed foods. They also made pasta from scratch and she explained to me how they used the little machines she has had a ball! All of the staff is so encouraging so attentive and sweet. They became like family.I cannot recommend this camp enough. I am so glad it came to Tampa. We will definitely be back 5/5!!!

An absolutely incredible experience for your kiddo! Highly recommend! Our daughter has learned so much about eating healthy foods, how to prepare, cook and plate meals. She loves it so much she asked to go back to this camp for the entire summer! Staff is patient and polite and truly have a love for teaching! Would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone!! Sign up for a class or camp today!!

Amazing experience with amazing service