Food for thought: good food is just as nourishing for the body as it is for the soul. In a world where convenience often trumps nutrition, it’s refreshing to take a step back and appreciate the farm-to-table journey that our food experiences before gracing our tables.
The Food Chain: From Sun to Soil to Stomach
When we talk about the journey of food, it’s important to know that it begins with the sun. From Swiss chard to sweet peppers, you can trace the latent energy in your nutrition all the way back to photosynthesis. The careful stewardship of nutrients through the food chain affects the quality of your food’s nutritional profile.
While soil composition and quality greatly influence the nutrient content of crops, so do farming methods. Organic farming, for instance, tends to yield crops high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Born from the roots of a humble basil greenhouse in Suffolk, Virginia, The Neighborhood Harvest depends on hydroponic farming practices to ensure that our produce is high in nutrients and free of pesticides and herbicides. Nurturing our farms over time, we’ve become known for our delicious and healthy lettuces and microgreens!
Step 1: Cultivation – Nurturing the Seed of Health
The journey of food as medicine is born at its roots—the farm. Here, the soil is rich with nutrients, ensuring every fruit and vegetable grown is of the highest quality. At TNH, we bridge the gap between the farm and your table, partnering with 30-plus farms throughout Virginia and North Carolina. These farms aren’t just producing food; they’re harnessing the power of the earth to cultivate the ingredients for our Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs).
Step 2: Harvest – Reaping the Benefits of Nature
This step is a celebration of nature’s abundance. Each fruit and vegetable is picked at peak nutritional richness. The timing is crucial for ensuring that our meals are packed with the vitamins and nutrients that fuel our health.
Step 3: Preparation – Crafting Medically Tailored Meals
The harvested produce is then transformed into a colorful variety of Medically Tailored Meals, chef-designed and nutritionist-approved. These healthy entrees are loaded with essential nutrients—a true representation of our commitment to personalized nutrition. Based on your specific health needs and preferences, these heart-healthy and diabetic-friendly meals nourish your body and satisfy your palate. Changing lives one plate at a time.
Step 4: Delivery – Food as Medicine at Your Doorstep
The final leg in this nutrient-rich journey is the delivery. Our healthy meal delivery services ensure that these Medically Tailored Meals reach your doorstep, fresh and ready to consume. They say that the best pharmacy is a good kitchen filled with healthy ingredients, and we aim to bring that “food farmacy” to you.
Try our Quinoa Encrusted Salmon, the anti-inflammatory powerhouse that rocks with beneficial fats, whole-grain quinoa, gut-friendly edamame, and black beans, and nearly a cup of vitamin C-rich peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini or our healthy Vegetable Lasagna, which packs nearly a cup of fiber-rich vegetables, a full-day supply of immune-boosting vitamins C and A, and a daily serving of calcium and iron, both entrees under 400 calories.
Step 5: Consumption – Feeding Your Health
Once you receive your meal, the journey of ‘food as medicine’ reaches its destination – your plate. As your tastebuds activate to every flavor-packed bite, you’re not just eating; you’re nourishing your body, promoting your health, and embracing the concept of food as medicine.
The Neighborhood Harvest’s ‘Seed to Plate’ Commitment
Our ‘Seed to Plate’ commitment at The Neighborhood Harvest is all about preserving food’s integrity and nutritional value at each stage of its journey. We select non-GMO seeds and cultivate them using sustainable farming practices to ensure nutritional richness. Our produce is harvested at its peak, then promptly cleaned, packed, and delivered to your doorstep to maintain its freshness and healthy kick.
With our range of fresh produce, chef-made meals, and mouth-watering delicacies, we strive to make eating as good as it should be. Visit The Neighborhood Harvest today and get healthy meal delivery services you can trust.
