Tarrant Area Food Bank among 3 food banks in the country with medically tailored meals pilot program

The kitchen at the Tarrant Area Food Bank is bustling with activity as meals are prepared for a new pilot program centered around the concept of food as medicine.

“We’re currently preparing peppers to make a tortilla soup for tomorrow,” said TAFB Executive Chef Robyn Frascella. “It’s one of our medically tailored meals.”

“This particular pilot focuses on heart-healthy and diabetic meals,” explained TAFB President and CEO Julie Butner. “There’s a direct link between dietary choices and overall health, both on an individual level and within the community.”

TAFB is one of three food banks participating in the pilot program, which aims to provide medically tailored meals to improve health outcomes. Currently, 50 individuals are enrolled in the pilot at TAFB.

“I’m thrilled for the 50 participants, but I feel like it’s not enough,” Butner remarked. “We need to expand this program to make a greater impact.”

The pilot program, initiated a week ago, employs a multi-faceted approach that includes medically tailored meals, weekly shipments of fresh produce, cooking and nutrition classes, and biometric screenings.

“These types of foods are often inaccessible to the community members we serve because of their high cost,” Butner noted. “Healthy food is often the most expensive. Our hope is that the pilot will demonstrate the link between diet and overall well-being.”

Frascella added, “It’s exciting to prepare these meals and create something new every day. We never receive the same ingredients twice. It’s like being on the TV show Chopped every single day!”

The prepared meals are flash-frozen and ready to be reheated and enjoyed. Eating well isn’t just about satisfying hunger; it’s about meeting a crucial need.

“Food has a way of bringing people together because everyone needs to eat,” Frascella observed. “This is what we’re meant to do!”

Funded by a CVS gift to Feeding America, the medically tailored meals pilot program represents the largest grant in the history of the Tarrant Area Food Bank.