In autumn 2013, amid Central Park’s golden hues, Dr. Sharine P. Forbes, DNP-FNP, MSG, BSN, BA, RN, and Rosa Nunez watched their children play and lamented the lack of healthy, affordable food in their community. Determined to change this, they envisioned a platform that would make fresh and healthy food options accessible to all.
Sharine’s journey took her through ICU observations, where she saw the dire health consequences of poor nutrition. Motivated by compassion for underserved communities, she pursued further education at Johns Hopkins, reigniting her vision of tackling food insecurity.
Thus, Eat Karma was reborn—a beacon of hope dedicated to providing nutritious, delicious meals to those in need, including individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities residing within food deserts.
Our Mission
Eat Karma wants people to “eat good, feel good, and be good.” Dr. Forbes is a Johns Hopkins School of Nursing University graduate driven and inspired to break down the barriers to healthy foods for those living with chronic health conditions or disabilities. Throughout her clinical practice experiences, she found that there was a gap in procuring culturally relevant healthy foods that adhered to medically prescribed diets. Leveraging her experiences and expertise, Sharine founded Eat Karma, a nonprofit offering medically and culturally tailored meals, and with backing from a strong group of board members it has flourished.
Recognizing that food is a profound element of culture and well-being, Eat Karma meticulously designs each meal to cater to the specific health requirements of individuals, while also honoring their culture. The organization is a mission-driven movement that promotes health equity and cultural dignity where each meal empowers individuals to access choices geared towards a healthier lifestyle that aligns with their cultural preferences.
Eat Karma stands out for its deep commitment to cultural sensitivity in meal planning in an effort to ameliorate institutional inequities and improve health outcomes and quality of life.
Our Quest
In America, people living with chronic conditions account for almost 50% of the population with racial/ethnic minorities being 1.5 to 2.0 times more at risk. Many live in food deserts and the rising cost of healthy food options, has created barriers for those with chronic conditions accessing healthy foods that align with their medical needs.
In a quest to fulfill its mission Eat Karma focuses on dismantling institutional and structural racism by bridging the gap between access to culturally relevant, high-quality, nutritious, and affordable meals, through the use of food trucks, while inspiring healthier lifestyles. At the heart of Eat Karma’s operational model is the deployment of food trucks as mobile hubs of nutrition and wellness. Eat Karma serves as a beacon of accessibility and availability, by traveling directly into food deserts and bringing meals to those most in need. The vision extends beyond mere sustenance. It’s about fostering a community around healthy teaching nutritional principles and raising awareness of food’s role in chronic disease management.
The Future
Future plans include expanding the fleet of food trucks to broaden reach and impact, developing a robust network of partnerships with healthcare providers, and harnessing technology to streamline operations. By tapping into community events and leveraging local media, Eat Karma aims to become a fixture in the neighborhoods it serves, creating lasting change and inspiring a movement towards health equity and cultural respect through nutrition.
Join Us
We invite you to join us on this journey, where every dish tells a story and is a stride toward better health. For students and faculty at Johns Hopkins University, there’s a golden opportunity to be part of this transformative solution that further addresses the social determinants of health by bridging the gap between health and culture. There is an opportunity to engage in social entrepreneurship, apply academic skills to real-world issues, and collaborate through community engagement and research that deepens our understanding of the intersectionality of nutrition and culture in healthcare.
By seamlessly integrating our guiding principle, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food,” into every facet of our operations, we strive to catalyze positive transformation in the lives of those we serve. Eat Karma is positioned to make a difference, one culturally conscious meal at a time. Reach out and be part of a movement that spotlights the importance of blending health, culture, and community in improving health outcomes.
This blog is a part of the “Dialogues in Health Equity” series by the Health Equity Faculty Interest Group. They are committed to decreasing health disparities experienced by local and global communities by promoting social justice and health equity through nursing practice, research, education, and service.
About the Author: Sharine P. Forbes
Dr. Forbes is the founder of Eat Karma, and a graduate of the DNP program at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She obtained her BSN degree from Duke University, and her Masters degree from the University of Southern California.
