Food as Medicine Global’s Post

Even in divisive times, food has the power to unite us. On #WorldFoodDay, see how we can grow community health, wealth, and resilience through food together. From helping families access healthy, affordable food to supporting local farmers and food entrepreneurs, we believe that when you #StartWithFood – everything else is possible. Dig in at: https://lnkd.in/gpXcvu3f

THOUGHTS FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR "Celiac Awareness Month is not just a time to support those affected - it's the ideal opportunity for businesses to step forward. Embracing gluten-free certification now aligns corporate responsibility with community health, fostering trust and opening doors to a growing market dedicated to safe, inclusive options." ~Andrew Batten Executive Director Gluten-Free Food Program If you are thinking about gluten-free certification, Celiac Awareness Month is the perfect time to get started. Let's talk. #glutenfreefoodprogram #glutenfreecertification #gffp #gffoodprogram #celiacawarenessmonth #celiacawareness #foodsafety #foodsafetymatters #foodmanufacturing #glutenfreefood #foodprocessing

So glad I went to this event in Bristol last night! So many dot joining moments. Deep knowledge and inspiration from all the panellists Will McBain, CHARLOTTE HITCHMOUGH and Simon Evans. A particular highlight for me was Simon Evans' (CEO of the Wye and Usk Foundation) thread of connection when he spoke about how the elevated price of housing, forces household incomes to require cheaper food. As such, it influences the nature of our agricultural practices - to produce and import food at the cheapest cost - which lead to river pollution and eradication of freshwater species and rivers' ability to respond resiliently to rapidly changing climatic conditions. So upward trends in cost of housing puts downward pressure on cost of food at final customer level, which ripples through our global food production system so we can't 'afford' agricultural systems that don't destroy soil and pollute / damage entire river catchments. And that continues to ripple out into untold environmental and human health consequences. This isn't to say that housing costs are a sole driver of the many issues we face around food and farming and water. It is to say that more dot joining and deep exploration of the causes of the causes of the causes is good Public Health practice and systems-thinking of a high order. https://lnkd.in/eFsq4WpA

🌿Welcome to another episode of the Plant Based On Fire podcast! 🌱🤝 Today, Bryan interviews Jonathan Kruger, one of the key volunteers behind VeggieFest Chicago, a leading vegetarian festival. Jonathan shares the festival's journey from its modest beginnings to becoming one of the largest vegetarian festivals in North America. 🌍👥 With a focus on community, volunteerism, and healthy living, VeggieFest Chicago offers a unique blend of food, entertainment, and educational content. Jonathan discusses the festival's operational strategies, the importance of youth involvement, and plans for the future. 💼✨ Starting a plant-based business? Learn from Jonathan: 1️⃣🌱 Community Engagement: With 1,000 volunteers from over 20 countries, the festival’s success is a testament to the importance of volunteerism and community involvement. 2️⃣ 🍽️ Balancing Health and Entertainment: From food demos and live music to yoga and meditation, VeggieFest ensures a holistic and enjoyable experience for all. 3️⃣ 📈 Nonprofit Operations: Running a successful nonprofit festival requires meticulous planning and strategic partnerships. VeggieFest covers costs through sponsorships, vendor fees, and food sales, keeping the event free for attendees. 4️⃣ 🧑💼 Youth Leadership: Integrating young volunteers into leadership roles is crucial for the festival’s longevity. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of bringing in fresh perspectives and energy to sustain the festival’s growth. 5️⃣ 💡 Technological Integration: Embracing technology and digital outreach has significantly boosted VeggieFest’s presence. A dedicated social media team has helped increase website hits from 10,000 to 50,000, showcasing the power of digital marketing. 🔥💡 5 Key Episode Themes: -Community Engagement and Volunteerism -Balancing Health and Entertainment -Nonprofit Operations and Financial Strategies -Importance of Youth Leadership -Technological Integration and Digital Outreach 💭🌟Did you know? VeggieFest Chicago’s food court is entirely volunteer-run, with 400 volunteers preparing and serving 27 international dishes to 50,000 attendees! 🎧👀 Now: https://lnkd.in/dPQ_hGGT #PlantBasedOnFire #Veganism #EntrepreneurialJourney #PlantBasedBusiness #VeggieFestChicago #PlantBasedLifestyle #CommunityEngagement #Volunteerism #HealthyLiving #EventPlanning #YouthLeadership #NonprofitFestival #FestivalGrowth

MAGIC is making the rounds within our local community. Last month we sponsored and spoke at the Sunbury / Big Walnut Chamber of Commerce quarterly breakfast meeting. We enjoyed teaching others about what we do and meeting other engaged businesses (not to mention inhaling some delicious breakfast). #Sunsbury #healthinsurance #healthinsuranceforbusinesses #healthinsuranceconsulting #Community #financeplanning #smallbusiness #insurancerevolution #MAGICHIS

Keynote Speaker: Tom Colicchio Talks about the importance and value of good nutrition for children and family meals, bringing people to gather at the table. The future is in our classrooms. #impact #community #culture #inspirethefuture #earlychildhoodeducation #goddardschools #franchiseeconvention2024

Part 3: Turning Community Involvement Ideas into Results Lessons Learned This initiative and the process involved checked several boxes for everyone. 1. It meets the needs of the students, giving them just what they asked for. So often groups offer to help on their own terms, rather than what is really needed. 2. It provided healthy food choices, exposing the students to good nutrition, and encouraging the lifelong health benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables. 3. It helps members of our faith community embody our values of ‘Service is our Prayer’, feel more connected to each other and our neighbors. It also allowed for everyone to be included. If they wanted to participate they could, no barriers. For me, I learned that when you have a good idea that meets the needs of many groups, the effort is well worth it and not nearly as daunting as you would think.

At Objective, we help business owners maximize the value of their companies through proven valuation tools and sell-side M&A strategies. What truly sets us apart, though, is our core mission: helping business owners achieve their personal and professional objectives. We’re grateful for the opportunity to not only support our clients but to also build lasting friendships with them. We’re proud to be part of a growing community of excellent leaders who share similar values. One of these inspiring leaders is Gregg Burt, Founder of +BOX. I first met Gregg when I helped him sell Hart Intercivic to H.I.G. Capital. It’s been incredible to see him continue fulfilling his passion for charity through +BOX Farmstead Feast, which I had the pleasure of attending this past weekend at The Old Rancho in Carlsbad. +BOX was born out of a need during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide an essential third meal to families in need, free of charge. Leveraging the existing school lunch program infrastructure, they distribute healthy and nutritious dinner kits to families already in the school lunch line. These kits contain ingredients for at least one square meal for a family of four and are curated with fresh, nutrient-dense products. In just one school trial, +BOX provided 50 meal kits to needy families in just 20 minutes—400 total meals! By the end of 2022, they will have distributed nearly 225 tons of fresh, healthy food, equating to 375,000 free, nutritious meals to families across Southern California. To get involved with this impactful organization, visit: https://hubs.ly/Q02Q9-l10 To learn more about how we lead with client objectives first, check out our video series: https://hubs.ly/Q02Qb5F10 #BusinessValuation #MAAdvisory #ClientFirst #ExitStrategy #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipCommunity #HealthyCommunities #CorporateResponsibility #InvestmentBanking #SouthernCalifornia #MiddleMarket

The Food is Medicine Coalition’s Community Engagement Committee is dedicated to fostering a community-centered approach to policy development. We invite individuals with lived experiences of food or nutrition insecurity to join us in creating meaningful change. Your insights are crucial in shaping policies that address food justice and security. Together, we can make a difference. #FoodSecurity #PolicyDevelopment #CommunityEngagement #FoodJustice #NutritionInsecurity https://lnkd.in/eDZrZGnT

After reading a report about a fruit and vegetable prescribing scheme piloted by Alexandra Rose Charity, I wanted to share the main impact points, as I find them quite amazing. With the scheme, each recipient had at least £8 per week in vouchers to spend at local markets on fruit and vegetables. Of course on paper an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption will always be beneficial, but there are other advantageous outcomes noted: 🥕Increased food security- vouchers allow for more money to be spent on staple foods. 🥑Improvements in physical and mental health, reducing pressure on NHS. 🫐More inspiration to cook with range of fruits and vegetables. 🥝Contact with community health hubs, where relationships are built with hub staff who can refer to other services. 🍓Spending vouchers within local markets increases interaction within community and supports local sellers. I would highly recommend taking a look at the report for more information: https://lnkd.in/eiZKk9nr