Sue

Owner/Founder/Primary Instructor

As my business name implies, I am passionate about real foods. However, it hasn’t always been that way. My undergraduate degree is in Chemical Engineering and I have a MBA from the University of Iowa. After completing my undergrad, I worked briefly as an engineer before starting as a brand manager for a major processed food company. After 5 years of working for this company, I learned a lot about processed food and became increasingly uncomfortable marketing these foods to children and families. I ended up resigning and began volunteering with a local foods campaign, which led to work as a consultant in the local foods and sustainable agriculture field.

During this time, I had four children: Annie, twins Andrew and Mary, and Claire. My youngest daughter, Claire, suffered cardiac and abdominal issues from birth that required her to have many surgeries and a feeding tube until she was 4½ years old. Going against a dietician’s advice, I decided to learn how to make the food for her feeding tube. It was the best decision I have ever made. I bought a Vitamix, did lots of research, and started concocting all sorts of mixtures being sure to include colorful fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. After switching to my homemade mixtures, I noticed quickly that Claire’s overall demeanor and tolerance for food improved; food really is medicine! Today, Claire will eat just about anything, makes dinner once or twice a week, and helps with our virtual classes.

After experiencing firsthand the power of real food, I founded Real Food 4 Kids in 2016. I'm incredibly passionate about food and the opportunity we have to teach kids about where their food comes from, how it's produced, and how they can have a role in creating the food they love to eat. I am looking forward to sharing my passion with your child! Explore. Eat. Enjoy.

Annie, Claire, Mary & Andrew

The Kids / Associates

Annie is 17 years old and the first Real Food 4 Kids helper (when she was just 11 years old). Annie enjoys taste testing recipes, brainstorming class ideas, and teaching some classes.

Claire is 12 years old and one of the main reasons Real Food 4 Kids exists today! Claire helps teach all of the virtual classes and assists with the after-school program.

Andrew is 15 years old and the main Real Food 4 Kids associate at Kitchen Spaces. Andrew also edits all of the videos for our Online Cooking School.

Mary is 15 years old. She helps with some classes and is sure to bring the fun!

Patty Loving
After School & Evening Cooking Club Program Lead Instructor

Paige Hilgerson
High School Student & Associate

Taylor Hall
High School Student & Assistant

Italia Armendariz
High School Student & Assistant

Norah Enos
Middle School Student & Assistant 

Lincoln Raemaker
Middle School Student & Assistant

ALLRECIPES MAGAZINE

We’re thrilled to be part of the 2023 Summer Issue of AllRecipes magazine! They did an amazing job telling the story behind Real Food 4 Kids.

We were also featured in the 2021 August/September issue of AllRecipes magazine. Check out the article with ideas about how to make kid-friendly energy ball snacks!

Rochester Public Schools KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Thank you to Rochester (Minnesota) Public Schools for inviting Sue Honkamp, founder of Real Food 4 Kids, to be the keynote speaker for their School Nutrition Services Meeting. The meeting included professional personnel from 30 school sites.

Sue shared how she came to recognize the importance of real food through her professional and personal experience, and why she’s passionate about sharing it with others.

Interesting in having Real Food 4 Kids speak at your event?

Local to Legend Podcast

Listen to Emily Steele’s Local to Legend podcast where Sue and Emily talk about Sue’s background at Oscar Mayer that led to a career shift and motivation to investigate the foods she and her family were consuming and the ingredients inside.

Iowa Live

Sue talks with Lou and Jackie from CW Iowa Live about the purpose behind Real Food 4 Kids, cooking classes for kids, food education in schools, developing lifelong healthy habits, and Sue’s daughter, Annie, makes energy bites!

Des Moines Register

Thanks to the Des Moines Register for taking photos of our cooking class on July 21, 2020, at Kitchen Spaces in Des Moines. Participants made pasta primavera!

Buy One Give One

We are proud to offer Buy One Give One for our Online Cooking School. Each time someone purchases a subscription to our Online Cooking School, we give a subscription to a family who would like to participate, but needs help financially.

Cook for a Cause

Cook For A Cause is an annual event where we make meals and snacks for local shelters that house children and families. We invite kids in the community to come and help cook all of the food that we donate. We hold a food drive in conjunction with this event.

Local partnerships

Real Food 4 Kids proudly partners with Blank Children’s Hospital, Children’s Cancer Connection, Gigi’s Playhouse, and the Food Bank of Iowa. Interested in a partnership?