SOLUTION

Our team created Bello Box, an affordable meal kit delivery service with a community-centered approach. The Bello Box is designed to make it easier for residents to learn about nutrition, cook quick meals, and provide access to the foods they need to live a healthy lifestyle.

Residents are able to choose from over 100 healthy meal kit recipes. Recipes are searchable by budget and dietary restrictions or specific health issues. Through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, the meal kit can be delivered at an affordable cost or picked up at the nearest grocery store. Nonprofit partnerships offer additional distribution points for pick-up within the community.

RESEARCH

Our team conducted research in Montbello, a food desert in the Denver metro area. We interviewed residents to better understand their current behaviors around food. We met local nonprofit leaders working on food access issues to gain a holistic view of the problem. We also conducted research on urban food access issues and solutions other cities have piloted to solve this problem.

KEY INSIGHTS

• Residents are more likely to eat food from convenience stores and fast-food chains because this food is most readily available.
• Food deserts are often located in low income areas. Transportation can be a challenge for these residents. It's not uncommon for residents to take multiple buses to get to a grocery store.
• Research shows that putting a grocery store in these areas won’t necessarily solve the problem. Education is key when it comes to changing food buying behavior.
• When diagnosed with a health issue, like diabetes, there is often confusion around what foods can be eaten and what needs to be avoided.

PERSONA