AUSTIN, TX - As we continue to explore Food is Medicine® and the opportunities produce providers have to harness this channel of demand, one company that comes to mind is Performance Kitchen®, which is driving the movement’s momentum by providing consumers with medically tailored meals (MTMs). I recently spoke with Mark Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Performance Kitchen, to discuss the company’s evolution and the importance of helping consumers make healthier choices.

“We started as a consumer retail brand selling in over 10,000 stores across the U.S. in major retailers such as Sprouts Farmers Market, Kroger, Southeastern Grocers, Albertsons, and Walmart. We also previously had our own retail locations and direct store delivery program in the Pacific Northwest, in addition to supplying healthy meal options to Delta Airlines,” Mark says, spotlighting the growth following the company’s inception. “We wanted to provide healthy meals to those who need them most: people facing chronic health conditions and/or lack of access to healthy meals. For us, this looked like engaging with innovative health insurance providers who offer MTMs as a covered benefit for those who qualify through National Medicare Advantage programs and state-level Medicaid programs.”

Through its collaboration with health insurance companies, Performance Kitchen now has a national presence in the United States, with a high concentration of programs in California.

U.S. healthcare costs have been rising steadily, with chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and kidney disease as the primary drivers. According to the CDC, over 144 million Americans—roughly 60 percent of adults—have at least one chronic disease. Performance Kitchen aims to address this problem by optimizing healthy food to prevent and help people manage several of the leading chronic conditions in America.

“Many of the members of our programs may not have experienced what it feels like to eat healthy, and we make it easy by providing frozen, prepared meals, delivered to their doorstep,” adds Mark. “The meals must taste good, otherwise people won’t want to eat them. We provide meals for people to simply start eating healthier, then empower them to continue with our program and then ideally transition into cooking for themselves with the support of produce prescriptions and healthy grocery programs. We don’t want anyone to be receiving MTMs forever—consumers need agency over their health, and we help them start. The role of a Registered Dietitian and support throughout the process is key to understanding and adherence.”

To help drive awareness for MTM programs, the company has teamed up with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to support the 138 million Americans living with diabetes. As of July, visitors to the ADA's Diabetes Food Hub can now access Performance Kitchen’s Meal Benefit Locator, which helps individuals determine if they qualify for delicious, diabetes-friendly meals covered by insurance.

“This program reflects our shared vision to improve health outcomes and quality of life through accessible, nutritious meals. Together, we are committed to making a meaningful impact on diabetes management and prevention,” Mark stated.

Another element of the provider’s effort to change health outcomes in America through the power of healthy and delicious food is its collaboration with Kroger Health to offer MTMs as a benefit through one’s insurance.

Through collaborations and a customized approach to driving awareness of the many benefits of healthy eating, Performance Kitchen lives up to its mission “To Empower People to Live Life to the Fullest.”

As we continue to dive into the Food is Medicine movement and opportunities for the fresh produce industry, leave a tab open to ANUK.