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Building Health Through Community
Imagine a contractor tells you, “Your house needs to be repaired, or it could eventually collapse.” Then the contractor hands you some wood, a few simple tools, and brief instructions—and tells you to fix it yourself. What would you do?
This scenario reflects a common reality in today’s food system. Many Arkansans living with diet-related diseases are told their “house” needs repair, but they’re often given little more than medication and general advice about what foods to eat. Rarely does someone walk beside them and guide them through the process of improving their health.
At Well Fed, we believe education empowers individuals and families to change their health outcomes. Of course, because of social determinants of health, many Arkansans need more than education alone to begin that journey. That’s why we also provide mobile access to healthy foods. But nutrition education remains a key part of every program because showing someone how to fix their “house” is just as important as providing the materials—healthy food—to do it.
"Health literacy and nutrition literacy make a big difference in the amount of improvement we see in communities. We want to provide both the resources and the tools to eat and live healthily. Families that are empowered through education have a longer-lasting health impact from our programs."
At each mobile market program, a licensed dietitian teaches a short, easy-to-understand lesson on a practical nutrition topic. One lesson might focus on a specific vitamin, why the body needs it, and which foods contain it. Another might feature a healthy recipe or explain how excess sugar affects the body. Every lesson is interactive and includes take-home materials participants can use in daily life.
Participants who receive food boxes don’t miss out either. Each box includes a simple, healthy recipe that often matches the ingredients inside. We also include easy-to-understand nutrition education materials to help families make the most of their food.
Is your organization helping people build healthier “houses”? Contact us today to learn which Well Fed program may be the best fit for your community.