Columbia Mayor Pitches City-funded Food Delivery Program For Food Deserts
© Provided by Columbia WIS TV Columbia Mayor pitches city-funded food delivery program for food deserts.COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control labels large tracts of Columbia as "food deserts" where access to healthy foods is poor.
Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann pitched a plan at Tuesday night's city council meeting to create a city-funded food delivery program to bring groceries to targeted neighborhoods.
The $10,000 request to the council would cover delivery fees to residents at $100 per year.
The city would utilize existing delivery services with large chain stores, utilizing existing technology. If successful, it would help springboard an expansion funded by outside grants.
Rickenmann said the program would help alleviate the need in the community as more grocery stores are recruited.
"At least we're trying something to get groceries in people's houses," he said.
The city council appeared receptive, listening to the plan without pushback.
District 2 City Councilwoman Tina Herbert the issue of food deserts requires exploring all options possible.
"To me, it's almost like a business idea, you don't know until you try it," she said.
The non-profit Wholespire advocates for expanded access to healthy food in food deserts and Policy and Advocacy Consultant Phillip Ford welcomed the proposal.
"If you are without a vehicle and you have to take public transportation and walk a mile to the bus stop and then ride the bus to the grocery store, and then grocery shop, have these bags and then travel all the way back. It's a huge barrier for these folks," he said.
The city council took no action on the proposal Monday night, but Rickenmann said he is aiming to bring it back before the council in April.
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8 Of The Best Mediterranean Diet Meal Delivery Services Of 2023
Sunbasket is our pick for the best overall Mediterranean diet Meal delivery service. Keep reading to learn what other services made our list.
The Mediterranean Diet is a popular eating plan that has been well studied for its many potential health benefits.
However, because this diet focuses on balanced meals that feature fresh, unprocessed ingredients, following it may require you to spend more time than you'd like in the kitchen.
Additionally, it's easy to get stuck in a rut of making the same recipes week after week.
Several meal delivery services can help you streamline meal prep and add variety to dinnertime, making it easier than ever to follow the Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional eating patterns of people in Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Spain, and Italy.
Generally, the diet includes lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds, fish, and heart-healthy fats such as olive oil.
Red wine is also permitted in moderation, along with limited amounts of chicken, eggs, and dairy products.
While red meat can be enjoyed from time to time, refined grains, highly processed foods, and foods and drinks high in added sugar should be avoided while following the diet.
The Mediterranean diet has been studied extensively and is associated with several health benefits, especially for heart health and disease prevention (1, 2).
Here's what we considered while making our list:
Sunbasket, a company that provides healthy, organic meals featuring high quality ingredients, is our pick for the best overall Mediterranean meal delivery service.
When building your box, you can choose from several diet plans, including Mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, gluten-free, vegetarian, and diabetes-friendly.
Additionally, you can select ingredients you'd like to avoid, such as pork, dairy, or added sugar.
The service offers meal kits, which include fresh ingredients and recipe cards, as well as Fresh & Ready meals, which are fully prepared dishes that can be heated and served. Each meal kit can serve 2 or 4 people, while the Fresh & Ready meals are single-serve.
Once you've selected your meal plan, you can choose meals from the service's full menu, which includes a variety of dishes suitable for the Mediterranean diet.
Here are some examples of dishes:
Sunbasket prioritizes sustainability by using eco-conscious packaging. Detailed instructions on how to reuse, recycle, or compost each component of the packaging are available online.
Sunbasket is a bit more costly than some other services, so it may not be the best choice if you're on a tight budget.
You can skip a week or cancel your subscription at any time online.
What our tester says"Each of Sunbasket's recipes featured fresh ingredients and unique flavor combinations that stood out from other meal delivery services I've tried. The garlic-porcini seasoning added zest to the Black Angus Rib-Eyes without being overpowering, and the high quality of the meat was noticeable.
"There were plenty of appealing options on the Mediterranean menu, and all of the recipes took 30 minutes or less to prepare. You can read more about my experience trying Sunbasket in this comprehensive review."
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Best for families Home ChefIf you're looking for a Mediterranean meal delivery service that can feed the whole family, Home Chef is a great option.
In addition to meal kits, the service offers fully prepared, oven-ready meals to make mealtime even easier.
When getting started with Home Chef, you have the option to order 2–6 recipes per week with 2, 4, or 6 servings each.
Once you've selected your plan, you can easily mix and match your favorite meals from the service's rotating weekly menu.
There's also an option to filter recipes by meal or diet type, including calorie-conscious, carb-conscious, and ready in less than 30 minutes. Some meals are oven-ready, and you can customize others by swapping in different sources of protein.
Keep in mind that there are limited options for certain dietary patterns, including gluten-free and vegetarian.
Like several other services on this list, Home Chef doesn't allow you to filter for the Mediterranean diet. However, many of the meal options work well for the diet, such as:
Home Chef uses packaging that's mostly recyclable or reusable and provides information on how to recycle materials on its website.
What our tester says"Home Chef's menu options are grouped by how long they take to prepare, and the ingredients are packaged by recipe to help streamline meal prep. I appreciated that it was easy for me to get dinner ready in just a few minutes, and my family especially enjoyed the Chicken Lorraine.
"I also appreciated that the recipes were simple and easy to follow without being bland — additional ingredients like sauces added a nice boost of flavor. Overall, I found Home Chef to be a convenient, family-friendly option for weeknight dinners.
"To learn more about Home Chef, check out our comparison of Home Chef and HelloFresh."
— Healthline writer SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD
Best budget HelloFreshHelloFresh is a popular meal kit company that makes it easy and affordable to prepare healthy meals at home.
You can choose from several plans and pick meals that are family-friendly, calorie-conscious, pescatarian, vegetarian, or quick and easy.
Unlike similar services, HelloFresh doesn't currently offer oven-ready or fully prepared meals, which may be a drawback for some.
Though HelloFresh doesn't have a specific menu for the Mediterranean diet, the service does label certain meals on the menu that are suitable for those following a Mediterranean diet.
Here are a few examples of items on its rotating weekly menu:
Most HelloFresh packaging is recyclable, including the box, gel packs, liners, and separators. Information on how to recycle each component is available online.
The service makes it easy to cancel your subscription or skip a week at any time by logging into your account.
What our tester says"While HelloFresh doesn't offer as many options for certain diets like keto or paleo, it does have a huge selection of recipes to choose from each week. The ingredients arrived in good condition and were grouped by recipe, which helped me save time in the kitchen.
"All of the meals tasted great, and I've saved several of the recipes so that I can make them again. Plus, it's one of the more budget-friendly meal kits available.
"You can read more about HelloFresh in this in-depth review."
— Healthline writer SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD
Best frozen BistroMDBistroMD provides fully prepared frozen meals, which are a good alternative to meal kits if you're looking for a simple way to follow the Mediterranean diet while saving time on cooking.
When signing up, you can opt to receive either 5 or 7 days' worth of meals per week, with either lunch and dinner only or all three meals per day.
The service offers several programs to choose from, and you can select meals that are gluten-free, heart-healthy, or tailored to people who have diabetes or are experiencing menopause.
While BistroMD doesn't offer a plan specifically for the Mediterranean diet, the full menu features 150 meals, including plenty of suitable options, such as:
BistroMD entrees are delivered in a recyclable cooler. The box, meal sleeves, bags, plastic trays, and insulation are also recyclable.
BistroMD makes it easy to pause or cancel your subscription by logging into your account on the website.
Just keep in mind that, because it's one of the more expensive options and doesn't offer a rotating weekly menu, BistroMD may not be the best option for everyone. See our picks for the best frozen meal delivery services.
To learn more about BistroMD, check out our full review.
Best organic Green ChefAs one of the only certified organic meal kits available, Green Chef is a great choice if you're looking for an easy way to follow a healthy, well-rounded Mediterranean diet while eating organic.
When signing up with Green Chef, you can select your preferred meal types to find recipes suitable for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, paleo, or Mediterranean diets.
Here are some examples of meals on the Mediterranean menu:
In addition to using recyclable packaging, Green Chef offsets 100% of carbon emissions from operations, so it's a good option for eco-conscious consumers.
You can pause, skip, or cancel your weekly orders directly on the company's website.
Green Chef is more expensive than many competitors, and most of the meals contain a relatively high number of calories per serving, which could be an important consideration if you're trying to lose weight.
What our tester says"I really appreciated that all of Green Chef's recipes were packed with fresh, flavorful vegetables, and I especially liked the flavors and textures of the Bulgogi Noodle Bowls.
"Each recipe's ingredients were pre-chopped and individually packaged, so the meals took less time to prepare than most other meal delivery services I've tried.
"Green Chef's diverse menu and quick recipes make it a convenient option for people who prefer to eat organic food. That said, it's also a little more expensive than some other meal delivery services.
"You can read more about Green Chef in our full review."
— Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Best variety Territory FoodsTerritory Foods offers a wide assortment of fresh and nutritious meals prepared by chefs in your local area.
With a huge selection of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and side dishes to choose from, Territory is a great option for people looking to add more diversity to their diet.
You can order dishes a la carte from the rotating weekly menu, and they will be delivered twice per week for local customers or once per week for national orders.
However, keep in mind that there is a minimum order of four meals per delivery or eight meals per week, which may not be ideal for everyone.
Meals are individually packaged and available in two sizes: Standard Size and Boost Size. Boost Size is a smaller portion for light eaters.
You can filter the menu to find options tailored to the Mediterranean diet. Territory also offers dishes that are keto-friendly, paleo, plant-based, low carb, and Whole30-approved.
Here are a few examples of meals on the menu that are suitable for the Mediterranean diet:
All the packaging Territory Foods uses is produced from recyclable or compostable materials. Detailed information on how to recycle each component is available on the company's website.
Territory Foods offers one-time ordering or recurring weekly subscriptions and allows you to pause, change, or cancel your subscription online.
Learn more about Territory Foods in this comprehensive review.
Best allergy-friendly ModifyHealthModifyHealth specializes in providing fully prepared, organic meals that are produced in a gluten-free facility, making it a great choice for those with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders.
The service offers plans catered to either the Mediterranean diet or the low FODMAP diet, a diet plan often recommended for those with irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive conditions (3).
Optional upgrades are available for the Mediterranean plan, including educational materials and ongoing support from a registered dietitian.
Each week, you can select at least six items from the menu, based on your needs and preferences. You can also opt to omit specific ingredients from your meals, which may be important if you have food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Here are some examples of items on the Mediterranean menu:
ModifyHealth prioritizes sustainability and uses fully recyclable and reusable packaging.
You can skip a week or cancel your subscription at any time on the company's website.
However, because the service offers only single-serve meals, it might not be the best option for families and larger households.
Best vegan Daily HarvestDaily Harvest is a meal delivery service that offers entrees, snacks, smoothies, and desserts that are organic, vegan, and gluten-free.
Each week, you can customize your order by building your own box with 9, 14, or 24 items.
Daily Harvest offers an extensive menu with a variety of options to choose from, including flatbreads, veggie bowls, soups, and oat bowls.
Though the service does not offer any meal plans for specific diets, most items on the menu can easily be incorporated into a Mediterranean diet.
Here are a few examples of items that can fit into a Mediterranean diet:
Note that the portion sizes for Daily Harvest are relatively small and many of the entrees may not provide enough calories or protein for everyone.
Most of the packaging materials Daily Harvest uses are recyclable or compostable, and detailed instructions can be found online.
Daily Harvest makes it simple for users to pause, cancel, or change their recurring subscription as needed, directly on the website.
What our tester says"Daily Harvest has a massive menu filled with interesting items and ingredients, making it a great option for adventurous eaters and those looking to mix up their meal plan.
"My favorite items that I tried were the desserts — including the Scoops and Bites — as well as the flatbreads, which were tasty and convenient.
"However, while I enjoyed many of the dishes that I tried, a few didn't maintain their texture very well after reheating and most weren't quite filling enough for a main meal.
"For a closer look at my experience trying Daily Harvest and which items I enjoyed most, check out my full review."
— Healthline writer Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD
A Charlotte Food Delivery Service Is Making A Shift To Match Restaurant Meals
The farm-to-table meal service Your Farms Your Table is making a shift to restaurant meals.
The food delivery program created by chef Sam Diminich — who took on Food Network's "Beat Bobby Flay" and won and went onto open the successful Restaurant Constance — will pause March 25 and reopen April 5 as Constance @ Home.
The pre-order meal delivery service's new format will offer meals from Restaurant Constance, which focuses on seasonal ingredients from area farmers and was recently named one of the hottest spots in Charlotte by Eater Carolinas. The restaurant will begin offering takeout, as well.
[READ NEXT: Restaurant Constance is open in Charlotte's Wesley Heights neighborhood.]
How will Constance @ Home work?Home delivery will be available from Constance @ Home from Wednesday-Saturday each week. Same-day orders must be placed before 1 p.M., and pickup/delivery begins at 4:30 p.M.
Takeout orders placed online after 5 p.M. Will be pickup only at the restaurant Tuesday-Saturday.
Bibb salad at Restaurant Constance.
The Constance @ Home menuThe meal delivery and pickup selections will include items from Restaurant Constance's menu. Options include:
Short ribs with celery root puree, balsamic braised onions and greens
Shrimp dumplings with shiso, radish and lobster
Bibb salad with radicchio, butternut fondue, toasted benne seeds, pickled apples, pomegranate seeds, chevre and apple cider vinaigrette
Kale salad served with parsnip fondue, Asian pear, candied pecans, sweet potato croutons, brie and white balsamic vinaigrette.
Packaged retail items such as dressings, barbecue sauces and hummus will continue to be available for purchase.
Restaurant Constance's kale salad.
Restaurant ConstanceLocation: 2200 Thrift Road, Charlotte, NC 28208
Menu
Cuisine: American, seasonal
Instagram: @restaurant_constance
Your Farms Your Table/Constance @ HomeLocation: 2200 Thrift Road, Charlotte, NC 28208
Instagram: @yourfarmsyourtable
