Have you ever wished for cheap AND healthy food, or eaten poorly just because it was the least expensive route? Maybe you’ve shopped at a health food store to buy nutritious produce, experienced the heart-pumping moment at the check-out counter when you heard the grand total, and then felt disappointment at how much cash you just spent in the name of health food. This, of course, is if you were lucky enough to have access to a health food store in the first place. For the 40 million estimated Americans who live in poverty, it’s particularly difficult to afford what health food stores have to offer. (1)
All of this may be changing, however.
A Dream For Cheap Healthy Food
Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe’s, sought to create a store that would make wholesome food affordable for everyone. On June 4, 2015, his dream came true when he opened the doors to his not-for-profit grocery store, Daily Table. Rauch wanted to build a store where customers could buy nutritious food for the same amount they would spend at a fast-food restaurant. At the same time, he wanted the store to go beyond merely selling goods; he hoped to make a real difference in the world. (2, 3)
Rauch’s ‘Why?’
Rauch noticed a connection between economics and health. He believed that people who lived in economically-challenged areas were at a disadvantage because healthy food is expensive and fast-food is affordable. Rauch was concerned that people in lower-income areas had less access to healthy food and therefore more health problems. (2, 3)
How It Works
Rauch’s clever, innovative idea is quite simple. He connected with farmers, grocery stores, and manufacturers and asked them to donate their surplus of healthy, fresh food to Daily Table. Many of the food suppliers he contacted were already concerned about the amount of food that they wasted, and they wanted to find a solution. Using the donations from these companies, Rauch’s team is able to sell the surplus food at fast-food prices. Rauch also works with nutrition experts who share their expertise on food and menu choices with him. In this way, Daily Table is helping feed Americans healthy, affordable food and addressing the problem of food waste. (2, 3, 4)
What Daily Table Offers
Daily Table sells baked goods, produce, dairy, and ready-made meals. The staff at Daily Table prepare soups, smoothies, side dishes, salads, and meals every day. Incredibly, Daily Table goes beyond selling nutritious, inexpensive produce. They even offer free cooking classes to people of all ages! Some of the cooking classes aim to teach people how to cook and eat well with specific health ailments, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Elementary school-aged children can even learn how to cook in classes specially designed for them. (2, 3, 4)
The Beginning Of A Revolution
Doug Rauch is an example of how powerful it can be to follow a dream that is aligned with your values. He saw a link among a handful of contemporary societal problems, followed his dream to address them, and he succeeded. So far, Rauch has opened two stores in Massachusetts, and he plans on opening more. This may just be the beginning of a revolution in how we address food waste, poverty, obesity, and health food.
