Medically Tailored Meal Program

According to a Heart Health in Wisconsin Report from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 67% of Wisconsinites are obese or overweight, 36% have high cholesterol, and 32% have high blood pressure. The common factor in these health issues comes down to diet. To help bring these numbers down and push for a healthier lifestyle, Food For Health was created.

Food For Health is an independent company that works to serve those with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, maternal health, and cardiovascular disease in Southeast Wisconsin.

Food For Health was created through the Dohmen Company Foundation with the vision of creating equitable access to healthy and happy lives through the power of food. According to its website, the company’s origin comes from over 160 years of experience in healthcare as Dohmen.

Food For Health’s B3Healthy program, Wisconsin’s first and only medically tailored meal provider, provides participants with 10 fresh medically tailored meals delivered to their homes each week for an average of $10 per meal.

“We are meals instead of pills,” said Food For Health Manager of Advancement and Engagement Sharaka Berry.

According to Wisconsin Watch, many communities in Wisconsin don’t have access to fresh food, which is a leading cause of the health problems stated earlier.

“Healthy food…impacts your health, it impacts the community and we deserve better than what we currently have,” said Berry.

Berry and Food For Health Director of Health Sara Fox, along with the rest of their team, are working to empower people to make healthier food options.

“Everything that we’re putting on our plate affects our health,” said Fox. “…small changes [make] big results. It always matters that we make health a priority.”

Additional Resources

Along with home-delivery meal service, participants are also assigned a health coach, receive biometrics screenings to baseline their condition, and have access to educational content supporting their health journey.

Fox said Food For Health offers multiple classes, including cooking and fitness, that are free to the community. One way to empower the community is to provide education on different affordable healthy food options.

“People always think that healthy food is expensive, that’s a myth,” said Fox.

Both Berry and Fox encourage community members to be open to expanding their food palettes.

“You don’t know if you don’t like something if you don’t try it,” said Berry. “You have nothing to lose by trying new healthy food.”

Food For Health is currently looking for volunteers.