Local chef crafts healthy meal kits to combat hunger
OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) - Chef Brandi Jones has seen first hand the struggles many Oklahomans face trying to access a nutritional meal that doesn’t cost a fortune.
“This is not just a job for me, this is a passion… A lot of the hardships and things that these people experience, I have experienced it myself,” said Jones. “A lot of us know that it's not affordable to eat healthy.”
According to the American Heart Association, more than 127,500 people in Oklahoma County live in households with income below 100% of the federal poverty level.
“A lot of times the cheapest options available will be high in sodium. They'll be high in fat,” said Mark Fried, the executive director of the American Heart Association. “And because of that, you know, there's a greater prevalence of things like diabetes and heart disease.”
To combat this, AHA is joining in on the Market at East Point’s Food is Medicine initiative. Starting next month, qualified recipients will get a voucher for a meal kit carefully crafted by Chef Brandi.
“This is going to be our turkey sausage and cabbage stew,” said Chef Brandi. “Everything is healthy. So, the sodium is reduced so that you're not getting all of that salt intake.”
She said the kits are also available to residents without a voucher at a low cost. Some of the kits provide enough food to feed an entire family of eight.
“Eating healthy is critical if we hope to give ourselves the best possible chance,” said Fried. “It is just a step in the right direction. And we're going to want to explore how we can expand on this.”
To find out if you qualify for a meal kit voucher, contact the American Heart Association.