Reviving Local Economies through Community-Based Meal Programs

How Feeding Hungry People Is An Act Of Love | This episode is brought to you by Tushy, Thrive Market, and the Pegan Shake

Heroes run toward danger rather than away from it, and Chef José Andrés is no stranger to disaster zones. Over the past few years, he has responded to several major crises. After an earthquake devastated Haiti, Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, wildfires scorched Southern California, and a refugee crisis intensified on the Venezuelan border, José quickly mobilized volunteer chefs to prepare meals for thousands of people in need through his non-profit, World Central Kitchen. 

On this episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, I was so happy to sit down and talk with José Andrés, an internationally-recognized culinary innovator, New York Times best-selling author, educator, humanitarian, chef, and owner of ThinkFoodGroup, the award-winning collective of nearly 30 restaurants throughout the country and beyond. A naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Spain, Andrés has been a tireless advocate for immigration reform and on July 4, 2014 was named by President Barack Obama as that year’s “Outstanding American by Choice.” José was twice named to Time’s “100 Most Influential People” list and recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal. 

This episode is brought to you by Tushy, Thrive Market, and the Pegan Shake.

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The Pegan Shake features a combination of collagen, pumpkin, and pea protein with healthy fats from my two favorites: MCT oil which is great for fat burning and brain power as well as avocado oil. I’ve also included acacia fiber to help with gut motility and digestion. Check it out at getfarmacy.com/peganshake.

Here are more of the details from our interview: 

• The people who inspired José in his childhood (7:08) 

• World Central Kitchen and José’s approach to serving food in an emergency (12:01)

• The paradox of hunger in America (16:53)

• Replicating the World Central Kitchen model (27:53)

• Ending food deserts (29:55)

• Why every school should have full functioning kitchen as part of an emergency preparedness plan (38:53)

• Developing school curriculums to teach history, science, and other subjects through food (42:40)

• The FEED Act and other legislative solutions that José has backed to feed the vulnerable in emergency situations (44:57)

• World Central Kitchen’s work feeding hospital workers, the elderly, homeless people, and others during the coronavirus pandemic (47:10)

• The value of breaking bread with people who exist outside of your comfort zone (57:10)

Learn more about José Andres at http://www.joseandres.com. Follow him on Twitter @chefjoseandres, on Instagram @chefjoseandres, and on Facebook @chefjoseandres.

Learn more about World Central Kitchen at https://wck.org. Follow World Central Kitchen on Facebook @worldcentralkitchen, on Instagram @WCKitchen, and on Twitter @WCKitchen.