Health Equity

There are many ways your company can engage to support the goal of Health Equity for All: 

• Engage your company in positive messages supporting health equity themes on your social media channels 

• Donate products or provide monetary support to your community food bank 

• Provide assistance to local charitable organizations  

• Partner with other neighborhood businesses to sponsor fun runs and walks to support health equity efforts   

• Report health equity support engagements to the American Bakers Association so that we can continue to benchmark the industry’s overall support for the underserved community.   

Through ABA benchmarking, we are proud to report that  

• 97 percent of member companies reported making monetary donations to local food banks and other organizations.  

• 81 percent of ABA baker and allied member companies reported donating food to local food banks and other charitable organizations totaling over 26 million pounds of food 

• 95 percent of bakers donated food to local food banks. 

Here are a couple of examples of how ABA members are making a difference: 

• Associates from all locations of one ABA member company participated in more than 10,000 volunteer hours, including Day of Impact which coordinated efforts of 400+ associates during a designated two-week period.  

• Through a company program, all bakery locations of one company donated their time to community beautification, education, and nutrition events. 

• Holidays provide a great opportunity to give back to local communities – over Thanksgiving 2021, hundreds of associates from one company participated in events to support their local community through two events. 

• One company contributed 800 hours for food pantry sorting, building food backpacks, and serving at a kitchen for homeless persons.    

These are tremendously positive trends, and ABA wants to encourage continued momentum moving forward as The White House has started its second phase seeking additional commitments to support health equity efforts. 

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Do you know the face of hunger in America? It could be your neighbor, classmate, or co-worker. According to USDA, more than 34 million people in the US, including 9 million children, are food insecure.   

Feeding America defines hunger as “the feeling someone has when they don’t have food,” and food insecurity as “the consistent lack of food to have a healthy life because of your economic situation.”  

DYK: While every community in the country is home to families who face hunger, rural communities are especially impacted. 

The COVID-19 pandemic increased food insecurity, especially among families with children and communities of color, according to Feeding America.  

Supporting your local food bank is important because many households experiencing food insecurity don’t qualify for federal nutrition feeding programs.   

12.1 million families with kids reported not having enough to eat over the past week, according to Census Pulse Report, Jul-Aug 2022, up from 9.7 million in Dec 2021.  

1 in 8 kids lives in food-insecure households, according to 2021 USDA study.  

What can you do to help achieve health equity in your community? Donate your time, money, or food products to local charities, feeding groups & food banks.  

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The 2020 Dietary Guidelines named whole grains as one of three essential foods for Americans’ daily diet.  

For better health, eat more nutrient-dense foods, says USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines: those high in health-promoting components like vitamins & minerals, while low in sugars, saturated fat, and sodium.  

Enriched grains, fortified as mandated by the govt since 1941, have the three major B vitamins and iron added in equal or larger amounts to those in whole grain products.  

Grain foods contribute vital, often under-consumed, nutrients to the diet, including 43.7% of all fiber. Approximately two-thirds of the grain contribution to total fiber intake comes from enriched grains.  

The essential B vitamins in enriched grains help maintain a healthy nervous system, increase energy production, and may play a role in lowering cholesterol.  

Whole grains may be a good source of fiber. Vitamins and minerals in whole grains may help boost immunity, lower blood pressure, and help prevent some forms of cancer.  

DYK folic acid is vital in helping reduce neural tube defects in babies? The #1 source of folic acid in Americans’ diets is enriched grain foods like breads, tortillas, cereals, and pasta.  

@CDCgov recognizes enriched grains, rather than supplements, as responsible for lowering the rate of neural tube birth defects by approximately one-third in the U.S.  

Did you know, Hispanic babies are at higher risk of neural tube defects, according to @CDCgov.   

Moms-to-be: help reduce the risk of neural tube defects by eating folate-enriched or fortified foods like breads, buns, tortillas, crackers, or cereals.  

Infant grain consumers have higher daily folate, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, choline, B12, and B6 intakes, according to recent research. https://tinyurl.com/5n8h23v5   

Breads, rolls & tortillas help older Americans meet their daily needs for important B vitamins, fiber, folate & iron says recent research. https://tinyurl.com/4527kytk   

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Enjoy these recipes from the MyPlate Kitchen representing diverse cultural influences and showcasing the healthfulness, great taste, versatility, and affordability of grain foods. There are great opportunities for companies to post healthy recipes that feature nutrient-dense grain foods on their company websites.  Here are some examples of creative recipes that factor in cultural diversity. 

Get a nutritious start to your day with this Breakfast Burrito with Salsa. To save time, make the egg mixture the night before, refrigerate, then microwave with tortillas in the morning. https://tinyurl.com/3rpd36up   

Avocado Breakfast Bruschetta is colorful and full of nutrients. Chop veggies and hard boil the eggs in advance for quick assembly. Also makes a tasty lunch or dinner. https://tinyurl.com/2p82t9m8   

Who can say no to a banana split? Try this breakfast version with yogurt, cereal & fruit. Add a piece of enriched or whole wheat toast to up your nutrition density quotient. https://tinyurl.com/2sxjj8p6   

Serve hummus combined with veggies in a pita or tortilla for lunch or spread on crackers for a healthy snack. Try making your own hummus with this easy recipe.  https://tinyurl.com/mrv7zfzz   

Add color and flavor to your lunch with Fruity Thai Pita Pockets, featuring a surprising blend of fruit, spinach, and peanut sauce. https://tinyurl.com/56237h5j   

Soup ‘n sandwich are perfect partners. Combine Spring Vegetable Soup with your favorite sandwich fillings on whole or enriched bread. Double the soup recipe and freeze it for later. 

https://tinyurl.com/4jkcs63n   

This Black Bean Quesadilla recipe makes a delicious dinner but would also be great for lunch or as a side dish. https://tinyurl.com/5j7d59v5   

Dinner is on the table fast when you make these Tuna Melt Burgers using whole wheat or enriched bread or buns. Each “burger” bakes in its own foil package for quick cleanup. https://tinyurl.com/5b9xxba8   

Enjoy a taste of India with this recipe for Masur Dal (red lentils with onion). To round out the meal, serve with whole grain or enriched rolls, bread, pita, or naan. https://tinyurl.com/5n6bv68b