Food Equality Initiative Inc

FOOD EQUALITY INITIATIVE FIGHTS FOR NUTRITION SECURITY AND HEALTH EQUITY FOR ALL THROUGH INCREASING ACCESS TO NOURISHING FOOD AS MEDICINE.

IN 2022, FOOD EQUALITY INITIATIVE (FEI) IMPLEMENTED AN UPDATED MISSION: FOOD EQUALITY INITIATIVE FIGHTS FOR NUTRITION SECURITY AND HEALTH EQUITY FOR ALL. THIS UPDATE ALLOWED FEI TO FULLY EMBRACE FOOD AS MEDICINE. FOOD IS MEDICINE ACCESS PROGRAM (FIMAP) IS FEI'S DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED CLIENTS WITH A MONTHLY VOUCHER OF $155 AND HOME DELIVERY OF VOUCHER-PURCHASED AND SELF-SELECTED FOOD FROM AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE. SELECTED FOODS MET THEIR DIET AND PREFERENCE NEEDS. IN 2022, FEI PROVIDED OVER $310,825.00 IN NOURISHING FOODS TO 264 CLIENTS ENROLLED IN FIMAP WHICH EQUALS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED BY MORE THAN 15% FROM 2021 TO 2022. WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE FOODS, CLIENTS WERE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY STRENGTHENS OUR EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH AS THE FIRST FOLLOW UP STUDY TO OUR INITIAL RESEARCH STUDY WITH STANFORD UNIVERSITY. THE STUDIES LOOK AT NUTRITION INTERVENTION FOR PATIENTS WITH FOOD ALLERGIES. THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM SERVED AS A VOICE FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH A DIET-TREATED AND MANAGED CONDITION THROUGH RAISING AWARENESS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. IN APRIL 2020, FEI HAD ITS FIRST ARTICLE IN A MAJOR JOURNAL PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY: IN PRACTICE TITLED, "FOOD INSECURE AND ALLERGIC IN A PANDEMIC: A VULNERABLE POPULATION." IN 2022, FEI PARTICIPATED IN AND CONTRIBUTED TO PROCEEDINGS OF A ROUNDTABLE CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY ON RACIAL DISPARITIES IN ATOPIC DERMATITIS AND FOOD ALLERGY WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN ANNALS OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY 12/16/2022. FEI ALSO STRENGTHENED RESEARCH EFFORTS THROUGH OUR SCIENCE ALLIANCE TO INCLUDE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND BAYLOR/TEXAS CHILDREN'S. THROUGH THE EDUCATION PROGRAM, CLIENTS ARE INSTRUCTED IN HOW TO UNDERSTAND FOOD LABELS AND INGREDIENTS AND HOW TO THRIVE WITH A DIET-TREATED CONDITION. IN 2022, FEI CONTINUED TO PUBLISH THE FREE-FROM MAGAZINE TO PROVIDE CLIENT CENTERED EDUCATION. THIS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE SHARES THE HEALTH JOURNEY OF ONE OF OUR CLIENTS, RECIPES, TIPS FROM EXPERTS AND PATIENTS.

THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM SERVES AS A VOICE FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH A DIET-TREATED AND MANAGED CONDITION THROUGH RAISING AWARENESS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. IN APRIL 2020, FEI HAD ITS FIRST ARTICLE IN A MAJOR JOURNAL PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY: IN PRACTICE TITLED, "FOOD INSECURE AND ALLERGIC IN A PANDEMIC: A VULNERABLE POPULATION." IN 2022, FEI PARTICIPATED IN AND CONTRIBUTED TO PROCEEDINGS OF A ROUNDTABLE CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY ON RACIAL DISPARITIES IN ATOPIC DERMATITIS AND FOOD ALLERGY WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN ANNALS OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY 12/16/2022. FEI ALSO STRENGTHENED RESEARCH EFFORTS THROUGH OUR SCIENCE ALLIANCE TO INCLUDE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND BAYLOR/TEXAS CHILDREN'S.

THROUGH THE EDUCATION PROGRAM, CLIENTS ARE INSTRUCTED IN HOW TO UNDERSTAND FOOD LABELS AND INGREDIENTS, HOW TO THRIVE WITH FOOD ALLERGY AND/OR CELIAC DISEASE DIAGNOSIS, AND ARE INFORMED ON WHERE TO SHOP FOR ALLERGEN-FREE AND GLUTEN-FREE FOODS. IN 2022, FEI CONTINUED TO PUBLISH THE FREE-FROM MAGAZINE TO PROVIDE CLIENT CENTERED EDUCATION. THIS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE SHARES THE HEALTH JOURNEY OF ONE OF OUR CLIENTS, RECIPES, TIPS FROM EXPERTS AND PATIENTS.