︎ Beyond Community Food Hub
A Hub For Healthy Diet Within the Neighborhood
By Xinlei ‘Sean’ Chen ︎
Hypothesis
An unhealthy diet could lead to numerous problems. And creating a healthy meal can be affordable if people approach it in the right way. Therefore, it’s possible to form an organization funded by a collective of community members, each of whom will provide a small budget (ideally similar to their current budget for daily meals), which is responsible for providing fresh and affordable meals to its members every day.
An unhealthy diet could lead to numerous problems. And creating a healthy meal can be affordable if people approach it in the right way. Therefore, it’s possible to form an organization funded by a collective of community members, each of whom will provide a small budget (ideally similar to their current budget for daily meals), which is responsible for providing fresh and affordable meals to its members every day.
- Why
Sean’s struggle with diabetes and obesity is largely due to his diet, influenced by his low-income, night shift work, and social isolation. Improving access to healthy food and social interaction could help him maintain better health.
- How
Establishing a stable way for residents to access an affordable, healthy diet daily while also creating opportunities for social interaction.
- What
The organization will open a food hub next to the community grocery store to ensure a steady supply of fresh meals. Fresh meals will be provided daily, and community members can dine there or take away healthy meals for day. The hub will also offer chances to interact with neighbors.
- So What
The hub should be affordable for the Low-income community, providing better access to fresh, healthy diets instead of frozen food. Operating as a collective encourages social interaction, fostering community closeness.
The Link Between Design and Outcomes
Sean lives in a low-income neighborhood while his life style limited his access to fresh, healthy food. This organization could address the issue by adding a food hub to the local grocery store, making food more accessible and ensuring a steady supply. If 100 community members participate and the hub supplies three meals daily, each meal costs about $6~10, which is affordable. Sean could take 5-10 minutes to stop for take-out on his way home from night shift for three meals, eating later at regular times. This would help reduce his obesity by relying less on frozen foods and choosing healthier nutrition. The hub allows Sean to interact with community members while retrieving food or dining in for breakfast, fostering closer relationships and reducing social isolation.
︎︎︎Download TheConsciousOffice Poster
︎
Works Cited
1. “USDA Food Plans: Monthly Cost of Food Reports.” Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, n.d., https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/cnpp/usda-food-plans/cost-food-monthly--reports. Accessed 21 Sept. 2025.
2. Maggiolo, Nicolette Star. “The Cost of Eating Out Versus Eating In by State.” Top Nutrition Coaching, 16 May 2025, https://www.topnutritioncoaching.com/blog/cost-of-eating-out-vs-eating-in. Accessed 21 Sept. 2025.
3. Tiwari, Arpita, Anju Aggarwal, Wesley Tang, and Adam Drewnowski. “Cooking at Home: A Strategy to Comply With U.S. Dietary Guidelines at No Extra Cost.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 52, no. 5, 2017, pp. 616–624. PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5401643/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2025. U.S.
4. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Cost of Food Thrifty Food Plan, January 2025. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Feb. 2025, https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnpp/usda-food--plans-cost-food-monthly-reports. Accessed 23 Sept. 2025.