Focus on Food

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on heart health, and what better way to do that than through nutritious meals? Chanee Oginni, chef and director of food services at Chalet Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, stopped by the Daybreak kitchen to share a winning recipe designed to nourish both body and soul. Oginni, who recently won a national competition for her heart-healthy stir-...

Inspired by his recent trip to Italy, International Jazz Pianist Pavel Polanco-Safadit was inspired to bring the taste of the Amalfi Coast back home to Indiana. On Friday, Pavel came on “Life. Style. Live!” to show Host Felicia Michelle and Reporter Marlee Thomas to talk about his recent trip and show off a tasty Baked and Stuffed Shrimp recipe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...

Milk provides naturally occurring nutrition with vitamins and minerals. While formula can provide nutrition, it doesn’t give the infant’s immune system the same resources as human milk. Indiana is one ranks among the top 10 worst states in the country for infant morality rates. While public health leaders are zeroing in on how to help families increase odds of survival, The Milk Bank has provided...

A nonprofit focused on revitalizing the Northwest Landing neighborhood is up against a fundraising deadline for its newest project. The Aspire Higher Foundation looks to raise $50,000 by 11 p.m. for a matching grant through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s “CreatINg Places” program. Its latest campaign aims to kickstart the “Bloom + Brew Community Marketplace,” planned acr...

A “marathon” that fields no competitors, covers no miles, and has no finish line may not immediately seem like a candidate for success, but organizers of the the Million Meal Marathon say it is achieving exactly what they envisioned. The Marathon is the signature event of the Million Meal Movement . Hintz co-founded the movement in 2007 with her husband, Dan . The next Marathon is Feb. 5 at Gainbr...

The owner of sMall Town Produce, Thomas Loudermilk, joined us to share how he provides fresh, locally grown produce to Hoosiers at his stand near the Greenwood Park Mall. Loudermilk is a third generation farmer. His father raised him to grow produce, livestock, and hay. He began his farm in response to wanting to help his community, trying to help food insecurities. A portion of the produce made a...

If your grocery trips are starting to feel more expensive, but your bags are getting lighter, you’re not alone. Shrinkflation is when companies reduce the size of their products but keep prices the same. Director of Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability at Purdue University, Joe Balagtas, shared insights on how consumers can fight against this growing trend. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

The Indiana University Health Nutrition Hub at IU Health Methodist Hospital is having a profound impact on addressing nutrition security. The Nutrition Hub has become a vital resource for families facing food insecurity. Among its patrons is Kellie Watson, who found support in April while managing health challenges like diabetes and high blood pressure. The Nutrition Hub entered Watson’s life at a...

Despite the recent devastation of a fire , the Kountry Kitchen is determined to continue its cherished Christmas tradition of serving meals to the homeless. Owner Cynthia Wilson typically serves around 3,000 people each year as part of her Soulful Christmas Dinner. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The holiday season is filled with festive eats and tasty treats that are hard to avoid. The good news is, according to one Indy-area doctor, there are ways to indulge without hurting your overall health. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

After years of service to the community, an Indianapolis food drive is celebrating 30 years of giving. Rev. Richard Hunter and Martin University, with other partners in the community, are teaming up to help Hoosiers with the Christmas Help Program . This year is the 30th anniversary of the program. Rev. Hunter joined Daybreak to share how they’re helping over 700 families. See Privacy Policy at ht...

A new initiative in Indianapolis is working to address health and socio-economic disparities in five historic neighborhoods near IU Health’s new downtown hospital. The nonprofit Indy Health District Inc., in partnership with IU Health, local leaders, and community organizations, aims to transform these areas into healthier, more equitable communities. The district includes Meridian Highland, Highl...

As the holiday season approaches, 11% of seniors in Central Indiana face food insecurity, a statistic that rises in certain areas. CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions, Central Indiana’s Area Agency on Aging, is working to address this issue through various meal programs aimed at providing food, support, and community to older adults. CICOA offers several nutrition programs to support seniors and the...

The holiday season can bring added stress, but the foods you choose may help create a calmer, more enjoyable experience. Dr. Uma Naidoo, a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, and author, suggests simple dietary changes to reduce anxiety and promote well-being during Thanksgiving and beyond. Dr. Naidoo emphasized that eating to reduce stress doesn’t have to be restrictive....

For over 50 years, the Mozel Sanders Foundation has been a lifeline for those facing food insecurity across central Indiana, keeping thousands from going hungry. As Thanksgiving approaches, the foundation is gearing up to serve more people than ever, with a goal to provide 10,000 hot meals to families in need this holiday season. The foundation secured a network of commercial kitchens to help prep...

A garden has become a lifeline for central Indiana families in need. What began as a modest, corporate initiative has blossomed into a remarkable collective effort. In 2023, Roche’s Garden produced an impressive 300 pounds of fresh, organic produce. This year, the garden’s operators hope to double that number. Roche’s Garden is known as one of the oldest gardens in Indianapolis. It’s evolved to pl...

Mother Loves Garden is an urban education garden at 1114 W. 33rd St. on the near northwest side, and was created in 2013 with a mission to improve the neighborhood’s quality of life through volunteering and education. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Halloween is right around the corner, which means children will soon be knocking on doors shouting “trick-or-treat.” But while many are eager to indulge in their candy haul, consideration should be made for children with food allergies. During Tuesday’s Daybreak, I talked with with April Kleber, a registered dietitian with Community Health Network, to discuss the importance of choosing allergy-fri...

The United Nations celebrated World Food Day on Wednesday. The day marks the anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. The FAO Recognizes World Food Day on Oct. 16. Every year, the agency uses the day to promote food literacy, which is at the center of its mission. Organizers challenge people to get involved in October for World Food Day by combating food insecurity in their...

Pack Away Hunger is a nonprofit working tirelessly to address hunger locally and globally. Since 2010, they’ve packed and distributed over 23 million meals, helping to fight hunger in Central Indiana and beyond. Nick and Angela from Pack Away Hunger joined us to talk about their mission and how they make it happen. Pack Away Hunger’s mission is simple but crucial — to ensure that no one goes hungr...

The Indiana Pacers and its teammates across the community are amping up an effort to take on food insecurity. The program has a basketball theme -- with a nutritional payoff -- it's called ' Drive and Dish'. Gleaners Food Bank -- Pacers Sports and Entertainment -- the Pacers Foundation -- and the city's parks department are all part of it. It launched at the start of the year - bringing boxes of f...

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month approaches in October , it’s essential to empower women with knowledge and tools to manage their health. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, highlighting the need for proactive measures in diagnosis and treatment. To explore effective strategies, Dr. Tarah Ballinger, a breast oncologist at IU Health Simon Cancer Center talked with News 8. Ball...

HATCH was founded in 2015 with the mission to build a nutrition secure future for families by delivering animal protein direct from farmers to food banks with the lowest cost to serve model in the fight against hunger. HATCH has become a national leader in nutrition security and partners with farmers to supply low-cost, high-value animal proteins to 100+ food banks annually across 36 states. Today...

The nonprofit Mozel Sanders Foundation has made sure no one in Indianapolis goes hungry on Thanksgiving for over half of a century. The foundation typically uses a large kitchen to prepare the thousands of Thanksgiving meals it distributes; however, this year, that kitchen at Butler University is no longer available. Stephan Sanders, CEO of the foundation, said, “Due to risk management and new pro...

The Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday announced a $1 million gift to support an Indianapolis school. The initiative aimed to revolutionize school kitchens in Indianapolis and combat childhood hunger. The model will help to restore working kitchens within schools and provide support by hiring and training culinary staff to prepare scratch-made meals. Over the next five years, the initiative plans to pr...