Healthy Food, Healthy Aging

Written by: Dr. Meagan Grega, Co-Founder of the Kellyn Foundation  
 
Obesity, unhealthy lifestyle choices and the resulting chronic diseases like diabetes and coronary heart disease have become epidemic throughout our society.  Physicians agree that the best way to combat many of our most common ailments is through a healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep and a supportive social community.  
 
Unfortunately, 11% of the population of Northampton County fits the classification of “food-insecure”, meaning that they do not have reliable access to fresh, nutrient-dense, health-promoting food.  The “Eat Real Food” Mobile Market, a combined initiative of Kellyn Foundation and Two Rivers Health and Wellness Foundation along with many other supporting community partners, is striving to change those odds.  
This "Farm to Neighborhood" mobile grocery store project includes buying from local farmers at a price that sustains the farm, a micro-food hub to process the local food, the "Eat Real Food" Mobile Market to bring the food to the neighborhoods in need and the development of educational relationships, including nutrition, cooking and chronic disease screening. 
 
During its first season on the road in 2016, the Mobile Market visited 10 consistent weekly site stops, including four senior housing areas:  Bangor Elderly High Rise Apartments, Episcopal Apartments of the Slate Belt, and Moravian House and Lutheran Manor, both in Bethlehem.  The Mobile Market accepts cash, credit/debit cards and SNAP EBT Access Cards.  In partnership with Buy Fresh Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley, customers using their SNAP EBT Access benefits on the Market are eligible for double value on their purchase of local fruits and vegetables, allowing them to receive up to $20 of local produce for only $10.  We are thrilled to work with 15 local farms to supply fresh and delicious produce to neighborhoods throughout the county.  
 
With the cooling temperatures and shorter days of autumn, the “Eat Real Food” Mobile Market has wrapped up for the 2016 season; but we will be back next year, helping to make the healthy choice the easy choice for the families we serve.  To keep up-to-date on the Mobile Market and other Kellyn Foundation programs please check out www.kellyn.org and follow us on Facebook.