Everytable
One of the biggest issues with “healthy” eating habits in low income neighborhoods have been the cost. More and more Americans eat out, order in or just pick up something pre-made on the way home because there are two adults working in the home and the convenience of ready made food makes a tremendous difference vs cooking every night.
A few years ago I read a book by Kathleen Flinn called The Kitchen Counter Cooking School: How A Few Simple Lessons Transformed Nine Culinary Novices into Fearless Home Cooks. That book really stuck with me. Flinn was appalled watching a woman and her daughter fill their cart with cheap processed food and she decided that she could teach this woman and others how to eat healthy for the same cost or maybe even less.
Then I was in Utah picking up some chicken thighs and broccoli for a simple dinner just for myself. The cashier remarked on how the cost of those 6 thighs I was buying and the head of broccoli wasn’t that expensive. I could literally see her computing the cost of that meal in her head vs the cost of a fast food meal. I know that because we had a conversation about it.
The importance of making sure healthy meals are brought to under served communities has long economic value in health care alone. Healthy eating makes for a healthier body. So how do you bring the newest fast food casual restaurants with healthy ingredients into poorer neighborhoods when the cost of a meal is pricey. You do what Everytable is doing. They are opening up restaurants in multiple locations and based on the neighborhood they are located in affects the price. The higher prices are in the more affluent areas and that offsets the lower prices in the less affluent areas. It is not a non-profit venture but the owners have learned from their non-profit experience that bringing healthy food into poorer neighborhoods works.
I just love what they are doing. I remember when Magic Johnson opened up a movie theater in Compton. I thought it was a genius move. Many thought it was going to be a bust but the reality is everyone goes to the movies. He knew it and it turned out to be a brilliant move. Just like the co-founders behind Everytable. I love what they are doing. It is a great mission; how to make good food available to everyone. I hope that others follow in their footsteps.
Comments (Archived):
Wow their prices are really low. Cheaper than McDonald’s. This makes a lot of sense.Eating healthy food fast has been a challenge in NA, but it’s a getting better.At more normal prices, Pret is probably the closest to that in the US/UK. In Toronto, we have 3 great choices with many locations:http://www.iqfoodco.com/http://www.kupfertandkim.com/https://aroma.ca/(and https://www.eatfeast.com/ for delivery)
Go Everytable! Also, heartened to see the Union Square Greenmarket and food stamps – money converted into greenmarket coins now gives 40% value in addition, “for free” in vegetable coupons. Smart them.
So by definition when they open in a new city, they have to always open two locations- one in a more affluent area, and one in a community they serve…? I couldn’t find the prices, but omg, that’s crazy if they can beat McDonald’s prices. The food looks great!
exactly. very clever model.
Such a simple solution, yet so genius! I love reading about these ‘terrestrial’ companies you’re involved in because the innovations are so different from what we often see from digital companies, it helps me break of out my idea bubble. This concept is something I’ll be carrying with me into my thinking on my current and future digital products/services.
Bad eating is also often for comfort and to bring pleasure. This is one of the reasons that healthy eating hasn’t really taken hold at fast food places it’s simply not as satisfying to people that are addicted to food and trying to cure some other type of pain that they are having (either mentally or physically).The best illustration of this comes from how my mother used to cook. Boiled potatoes and a piece of meet and steamed green beans let’s say. Had that while I was growing up (back when you went to restaurants maybe 2 times per year). When she made eggs she didn’t use butter. I had to put ketchup on the eggs. All of us were perfect weight (and my mom and sisters and I to this day never a weight issue period). [1] Later, my first girlfriends mother whipped up eggs for me and used butter. I was like “wow that tastes great”. So I wanted to eat more and then “add the cheese as well”. Ditto for all sorts of food that I didn’t have growing up. (When my mom would let us have McDonalds it was like crack to us).[1] For me for a short period I actually broke from that but snapped back later and probably weigh less than I did in high school. My sisters never deviated at all, even after having children.
It’s not bad to indulge every now and then. 🙂
for sure
Sure but the problem is the large majority of people don’t have will power and don’t know when to stop. Although I am the type that can limit my eating very easily I recognize that not everyone is the same.
Absolutely, but creating a virtue out of aestecism out of fear of being overwhelmed by desire is a trip to the opposite extreme. I’m just applauding your balance by being able to incorporate butter and cheese into your diet.
But if the healthier food tastes good, then no issue. There’s this wrong assumption that loads of fat & processing means it will taste good. And no denying that frying makes food taste good as does sugar & fats. BUT we think fast food is popular is because it’s quick and cheap. Healthier food can bring comfort. It needs to be accessible. That’s what we love about Everytable concept. No cooking required. Similar cash outlay. Tasty (We assume.) and quick. There’s a reason why the fast food giants are going healthier. People care. And while there are failures in the effort, there will be successes. We hope this spreads to other cities. Makes so much sense.
Completely agree
Wow! This is really cool!
The skills to cook, and taking the time to make something have changed and not passed through generations. I know people that never cook anymore.