Compton Chamber of Commerce believes that the underserved communities can be changed sustainably by this one core objective: Saving lives by eating better.
In the first quarter of 2020, the Compton Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Comfort Keto to introduce its pre-cooked heat-and-eat ketogenic meals to the staff members of major businesses, governmental agencies and organizations operating in the greater Compton area.
The joint objective of Comfort Keto and the Compton Chamber of Commerce is to enhance the health status of professional workers and civil servants of the region by providing freshly prepared, nutritious, and affordable low-carb heat-n-eat meals delivered to the work location of clients on a weekly basis.
Objectives of the
Comfort Keto Program
for the Greater Compton Region
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Awareness:
The future of a community largely depends on the health of its people. As the premier business and community benefit organization, the Compton Chamber of Commerce aims to play a key role on increasing awareness of the working professionals regarding the association between healthy living and healthy eating.
The people’s buy-in on prepared ketogenic food program introduced by the Chamber is expected to bring positive outcomes for the upliftment of the living conditions in the region.
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Accessibility:
Food deserts are locations without easy access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods. Unfortunately, the greater Compton region is considered to be a typical example of a food desert.
Food consumed in food deserts is often high in sugar and carbohydrates, unhealthy seed oils, food coloring and additives, and low in nutritional value. The unfavorable cooking methods (seed oils used for frying) also affect the nutritional value adversely.
The introduction of Comfort Keto's prepared ketogenic food program to working professionals in our nutritionally underserved greater Compton area will help the workforce to improve their health, and consequently, their living conditions. As the beneficiaries witness positive health results, their engagement will intensify. This will set off amplified support from the private sector, government agencies and other stakeholders, and the prepared ketogenic food program will gradually become integral part of the workplace wellness programs across the region. While the Chamber and Comfort Keto implement the program, collective efforts of visionary Chamber leaders will diminish the chances of failure.
Comfort Keto's freshly made, "heat-and-eat" meals add an unquestionable layer of convenience for the workforce of the greater Compton region. Clients will receive their weekly healthy low-carb meals without needing to prepare them and without traveling to pick up their meals.
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Affordability:
Regardless of location, many people feel priced out of healthy offerings —and for good reason. One 2013 study published in the British Medical Journal found that it costs $1.50 more per adult per day (or $550 more per year) on average to eat healthy food, such as fresh vegetables, and meats, versus unhealthy food. Researchers noted that this is a "trivial" price to pay to avoid chronic diseases but acknowledged that, for underserved populations, cost is a "key impediment" to eating healthy.
According to the Food Empowerment Project, the price of fruits and vegetables has increased by nearly 75% between 1989 and 2015. At the same time, the price of processed, carby foods dropped by 26% during the same time period. As this trend continues today, underserved families of working professionals have little to no choice as to what kinds of food they can afford to eat.
Prices for Food, 2000-2019
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food were 53.85% higher in 2019 versus 2000. Between 2000 and 2019, food experienced an average inflation rate of 2.29% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food costing $100 in the year 2000 would cost $153.85 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.10% during this same period, inflation for food was higher.
Keeping the costs down,
profit margins minimal, and
prices low for healthy diet patterns are the key goals of Comfort Keto's prepared ketogenic food program.
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Health Benefits:
Healthier employees =
Less sick days + higher efficiency >> more productive organizations
The low-carb ketogenic diet is known for its anti-inflammatory and cognitive enhancing effects. Studies show that the ketogenic diet not only helps obese individuals but also helps to reverse type 2 diabetes, slow Alzheimer's disease, and is helping people naturally into remission from certain cancers.
Studies have also shown that the ketogenic diet also strengthens the immune system, thus giving protection from cold and flu.