Making healthy choices easier with Mobile Market

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At age 66, Reginald Mosley is taking charge of his health.

"My ultimate goal is trying to eat healthily, try to keep myself healthy. I come here to the center to do some exercise," Mosley said.  

To boost his success, along with other seniors, he's about to climb aboard a very special truck called the Mobile Market.

"It has a lot of great things for your diet, so it's a good deal. It's inexpensive with the ticket, so it's a good deal," Mosley said.  

Those good deals include low-cost staples like cereal, pasta, and peanut butter. Mobile Market is a partnership between Florida Hospital and local food banks. Florida Hospital Community Benefit Director Kimberly Williams says fresh fruits and vegetables on board the truck are free. "We connect with community partners such as local churches, nonprofits organization to really role out the food as medicine program," Williams said.  

Before seniors are eligible they have to complete a course on healthy eating.  

"Educational classes meet once a week for a minimum of 6 weeks,” Williams explained. “Once the participants complete those classes, they get a free food voucher in which they are able to get fresh fruits and vegetables.”  

Mosley says he's learning to make better choices.

"After the class, you start looking for certain things when you get on the truck.  I never thought about my bone density or what foods to eat to build up my bones, so it affected me quite a bit," Mosely said.  

Knowledge that's helping him and other seniors lead a healthier lifestyle.

 Contact:  Amber Windsor-Hardy, amber.windsor-hardy@ahss.org, (813) 803-4043.
Current Food as Medicine sites:

Hillsborough County:
    TNC Senior Center
    Ragan Park
    Williams Park
    St. John's Cathedral
    Barksdale Senior Center
    Fair Oaks Park
    Brandon Senior Center
Pasco County
    Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Creation Health Wellness Center
    Quail Hollow Elementary (Fall 2018)
Hardee County
    Central Florida Health Care in Wauchula
Highlands
    Ridge-Area Seventh-day Adventist Church in Avon Park