Issue #246: Changing Fast Food in America
Good morning. It’s Saturday, September 30th. After Friday’s brutal sessions, the Ryder Cup is within Europe’s grasp. Maybe things have changed by the time you read this…
Today’s Quick Win
33.8 million Americans are food insecure - it’s not enough to get them access to junk food. Healthy food should be available to everyone.
Inspiration: Everytable - Changing Fast Food in America
Moment of Fun: Watching the Game
Brain Games: River Crossing
“Healthy food should be accessible to all - instead of a luxury product!”
The percentage of calories for kids aged 2-19 that come from ultra-processed foods. That’s two-thirds of all food that isn’t really food. (JAMA)
This Week
This week was all about real-world options for how to stay healthy, but still enjoy great food when you’re away from home.
Issue #244 - dining out? Check out our Top 10 tips for eating out…based on what you eat, the quality of what you eat and how much you eat.
Issue #245 - whether you're in a rush, seeking a fast-casual experience, or prioritizing health, we have fantastic lunch ideas for everyone.
Click HERE to check out previous issues in the Thrive25 archive.
Inspiration
“On almost every major street corner in America, fast food joints sell burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets. These multi-billion dollar businesses have become the landscape of America.”
Imagine what would happen if, instead, these restaurants served nutritious, fresh, made-from-scratch food - at current fast food prices?
That’s exactly what Sam Polk, Founder/CEO of Everytable is trying to do.
I met Sam back in 2017 when he had recently started the business. He initially quit his job as a hedge fund trader to start a nonprofit, Feast, to address food-related health concerns in South LA.
What he found was - it’s great to provide education, cooking classes, support groups, and free product - but what the community really needed were fast food alternatives. Most families were managing multiple jobs and had little time or income to focus on their health.
So he pivoted to Everytable.
“Our mission is to transform the food system to make fresh, nutritious food accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
The thesis of Everytable is to provide nutritious food in these “food deserts” at prices local residents could afford. To accomplish this, Sam conceived were two ingenious ideas:
First - he centralized the cooking of meals to one location to create a more efficient supply chain.
Second - he changed the retail price by zip code. So the Backyard Chicken BBQ Plate might cost $10 in Beverly Hills, but only $5 in South LA.
It’s an ingenious way to use dynamic pricing to capture the consumer surplus of what people are willing to and able to pay in each location. Thereby making sufficient margins to support the neighborhoods that can’t sustain high-priced meals.
What started as a small operation has grown to 65 retail locations in California and New York, plus some incredible partnerships.
For example, they now operate at Compton College where students can eat salads, salmon, tons of vegetables - and all meals are just $6. The president of the college, Dr. Keith Curry, even secured budget to subsidize these meals for low income students to eat for free.
Another partnership is with NYC Health + Hospitals - Metropolitan Hospital location. It’s crazy how unhealthy the food is at most hospitals - when my wife had our second kid, she couldn’t even eat the breakfast they served. We’re giving women who were just depleted of all major nutrients sugar-filled processed crap - not with Everytable.
Finally, they also now have a partnership with CVS with pilot programs to serve these meals through locations in LA and NYC.
The real story is Sam’s grit and resilience as a visionary founder. All of his efforts recently landed a new round of funding - which is now over $100M in capital.
He’s using that money to take the supply chain to the next level - those centralized kitchens now have equipment like a Urschel dicer - a massive potato and onion peeler that wouldn’t fit into a typical restaurant footprint.
“That’s the thing that’s mind-blowing about Everytable, which is really how made-from-scratch the food is. My dream is all of our produce cooler is literally just produce and meat and grains. And we’re taking these ingredients as if they were directly off a farm, which they most often are, and then just doing all the work to turn them into really incredibly delicious, made-from-scratch meals.”
One final note on the investors in Everytable.
The lead investor in the latest round of funding is Dohmen Company Foundation - money from a 165-year-old pharmaceutical family business. In 2019, they decided to get into the “food is medicine” business instead (it’s a courageous move to value social return over shareholder return). Dohmen sold its operating business and used those funds to help companies like Everytable.
If there’s any question on the impact this amazing company is making in the communities it serves - check out this testimonial from one extremely happy customer:
For more - check out the Everytable profile in QSR Magazine.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
Mark Sisson started Primal Kitchen with a simple mission: to change the way the world eats. Choosing real food and investing in your health can lead to a more empowered you.
Made with premium ingredients like avocado oil and apple cider vinegar, the NEW Poppyseed Dressing dresses to impress wherever it goes! It’s not just a dressing, it’s a lifestyle 😉 - perfect for salads, fruit, chicken...
Enjoy a 10% discount off your entire order at Primal Kitchen. Don’t miss out - click HERE to claim your discount today!
Moment of Fun | Watching the Game
I don’t even know what happens in live sports anymore…
Brain Games | River Crossing
A farmer needs to take a fox, a chicken, and a sack of grain across a river. The only way across the river is by a small boat, which can only hold the farmer and one of the three items. Left unsupervised, the chicken will eat the grain, and the fox will eat the chicken. However, the fox won’t try to eat the grain, and neither the fox nor the chicken will wander off. How does the farmer get everything across the river?
Credit: Reader's Digest
**For answer, scroll to the bottom of the post
Product Recs
☕ Bulletproof - fuel your journey to a better you with Bulletproof. Elevate your performance with science-backed, functional nutrition from a wide range of coffees, proteins and supplements. Click HERE to start your transformation
🔋+🛌 Impossible - elevate your performance with Impossible performance drinks - gain Energy to crush your workout and get deep Sleep to do it again tomorrow. Click HERE and use code THR25 on your next order
💊 Momentous - unlock your peak performance with Momentous supplements: scientifically proven, clinically backed, and patented formulas. Exclusive offer for Thrive25 subscribers: enjoy a 15% discount off the entire product portfolio. Use Code Thrive at checkout. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your performance journey - shop now!
Thanks for another great week! Speaking of the Ryder Cup - here’s an extra laugh from a comedic legend:
Check out the latest workout videos on our YouTube channel
Got feedback, recommendations or stories to share? Tell us what’s on your mind here
Want this direct to your inbox? Sign up here
** Brain Games Answer **
The farmer must follow these steps.
Take the chicken across the river.
Come back with an empty boat.
Take the grain across the river.
Bring the chicken back.
Take the fox across the river.
Come back with an empty boat.
Take the chicken across the river.
Why Thrive25
We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
Sign up for free:
The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.