S7E4 – Food is Medicine

In this episode, Jenn and Daren dive into the critical issue of food insecurity and the concept of food as medicine. The episode opens with Jenn and Daren sharing their personal relationships with food, shaped by their diverse upbringings. Jenn discusses their upbringing in a food desert and the impact of generational food insecurity on their family. Daren, on the other hand, talks about his childhood in Southern California, where despite having access to food, his choices were often influenced by convenience and taste rather than nutrition.
In the Conversation, they delve into the definitions and implications of food deserts and food insecurity. Daren provides a detailed breakdown of the USDA’s criteria for food deserts, highlighting the alarming statistics of food insecurity in America. They discuss the severe impact of food deserts on Black and Hispanic communities, particularly single-mother households in the South. The conversation then shifts to the psychological and physical effects of food insecurity, emphasizing the importance of building a healthy relationship with food. Jenn and Daren share their personal journeys of overcoming unhealthy food habits and the significance of teaching their children about nutritious eating.
In the Reflection segment, they explore the resurgence of Black farm workers and care workers reconnecting with the land. They highlight the inspiring work of Tanya Denise Fields and other community farm initiatives that challenge stereotypes about Black people’s relationship with nature. They discuss the therapeutic benefits of gardening and the importance of reclaiming land and agricultural practices as a form of medicine and empowerment.

Reference Material
* Tanya Denise Fields and the Black Feminist Project: https://www.theblackfeministproject.org/
* Food for People: Insights to Combat Food Insecurity: https://convoyofhope.org/articles/food-for-people/#:~:text=Food%20Insecurity%20in%20America%202024&text=According%20to%20its%20latest%20research,urban%20and%20rural%20communities%20alike
* USDA Key Statistics & Graphics: https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/key-statistics-graphics/
* USDA Economic Research Service: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/documentation/#:~:text=Using%20this%20measure%2C%20an%20estimated,miles%20from%20the%20nearest%20supermarket
* A $300 billion opportunity: Serving the emerging Black American consumer: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/a-300-billion-dollar-opportunity-serving-the-emerging-black-american-consumer

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Podcast Summary:
This is an accidentally funny podcast about the realities of Blackness and adult life. We do “adult” differently. We are That Black Couple.
Our goal is to create a space for Black millennials to discuss and embody adult life on their own terms. We aren’t beholden to “traditional” gender or parenting roles, queerness is fluid and present in the ways we show up in our relationships and in the world, and we want to build community with other 30-something Black folx who are trying to figure this ish out.