Abstract:
Muncie is no stranger to food insecurity. While many of the larger problems relate to the
ability to obtain nutritious and affordable food, a general lack of education as it relates to healthy
eating underlies this larger issue. Outreach groups can get food to community members, but that
does not mean community members will know how to prepare and consume it to receive
maximum nutritional value. Food education must be the next step to ensure Muncie community
members are receiving adequate nutrition. Looking at one demographic in general, this project
seeks to engage Muncie’s over 65 population in collective food education programmed in a way
to foster relationships among participants. Partnering with Sustainable Muncie and their
MADJAX location, this projects looks at the specific needs of the community and culminates
with a letter of intent submitted to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Pioneering Ideas Grant
aimed at the construction and maintenance of a commercial kitchen space retrofitted for daily
programming of food education for Muncie’s aging population.