Nationwide restaurant sales have fallen for twenty-two straight months, according to the National Restaurant Association.  During the same period, grocery store sales have remained relatively flat while Americans faced with both a difficult present and an uncertain future search for cheap alternatives to the standard modes of eating.  Even low-cost McDonalds has faced less than expected growth during this recession.  What food business has thrived during these difficult times?...Only one, the Meal Solutions Business.

The original Meal Solutions business, Magic Meals Home Delivery, has posted a remarkable 20% increase in gross sales during the last quarter.  But how can this be true when it is likely that you don’t even know what a “Meal Solutions Business” is?  Simply answered, the reason you have not heard of this business model is that it is brand new, grass-roots in nature, and quickly spreading across America.  If your town doesn’t have a Meal Solutions Business, it likely will soon.

When challenged to explain why their business model has thrived when so many others have floundered, Stacey Davis explained, “People are desperately looking to save their shrinking grocery money while still preserving their ever more precious work and family time.  People are busy, tired, fat and unhealthy.  They want to change their personal status quo.  They want to eat better, be healthier, save time, and save money.  For the first time in decades, people are actively seeking relationships with local businesses that are not “too large to fail” and businesses that are making a dedicated effort to support their communities.  Our business model is what people are looking for.  We are changing the way America eats and does business.”

It is shocking that one segment of the food industry can thrive and rapidly expand while most others are struggling to maintain their market share or fighting to survive.  The Meal Solutions Business has thrived by focusing on three growing segments of the American population; busy overworked families, senior citizen striving to stay independent in their own homes, and those addressing rising medical expenses through better diet and lifestyle.  The experts at Advantage Meal Solutions counsel individuals nationwide who want to start their own local Meal Solutions Business.  These experts tell us that these three expanding markets of the American population are the future of food service.  For decades restaurant provided cheap-fast-food has been the staple of an America population on the go.  Today we are transitioning to an age of home-based affordable-good-healthy-food as the foundation of an America on the mend.  Americans want to be healthier, wealthier, and more connected to their neighbors and community.  It seems that this new food service model that provides that affordable, healthy, and local food is the foundation of the new vision of America community.

---

Is Wheat a culprit in Type 1 Diabetes? 

For years medical researchers have known that some people have an intolerance to gluten which is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and related grains.  In a growing number of cases this intolerance evolves into a life threatening disease called Celiac.  Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.  Symptoms of Celiac disease vary widely, but may include:  abdominal cramping/bloating, increased appetite, back pain, constipation, dehydration, diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores, night blindness, and weight loss.  In the recent past, medical research suggested that 1 in 5000 Americans had celiac disease.  Currently the research tells us that number is actually 1 in just 133.   There is a growing body of research that suggests Americans simply eat too many gluten-laden foods.  To further add to that theory, a new study has found a tie between wheat gluten and Type 1 Diabetes.

Scientists at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the University of Ottawa recently announced that they have discovered what may be an important clue to the cause of Type 1 diabetes. Their research has found that nearly half of those tested with Type 1 diabetes had an abnormal immune response to wheat proteins.

The research suggests that people with a certain genetic predisposition may be more likely to have their immune system over-react to the gluten protein found in wheat and other related grains.  Those who experience this over-reaction are more likely to develop auto-immune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes or celiac disease.  Scientists at the same facility have also conducted research that has shown that a gluten-free diet can reduce the risk of developing diabetes in an animal model.  This research is leading people to search out gluten-free foods in order to add variety to their diet and avoid overloading their systems with gluten.

Gluten is very common in the American diet.  Not only is it found in wheat, rye, barley, and related grains, but it is very common in processed food and countless food ingredients.   And while there is no cure for the auto-immune diseases that are related to gluten heavy diets, there is a growing awareness, leading people to seek out gluten-free meals.  That awareness has driven growth in the meal solutions market.  Businesses like Magic Meals Home Delivery in Topeka, KS, have been booming even in this economic downturn with their offerings of gluten-free meals.  Such businesses are very careful not only in their ingredient selection but in the methodical cleaning of their kitchen before a gluten-free cook day.  Even gluten dust in the air can contaminate a meal designed for someone suffering one of these auto-immune diseases. 

Stacey Davis, co-owner of Magic Meals, tells us that people looking for a better way to eat while simplifying their lives has driven not only amazing growth in their own family business, but has inspired the couple to find ways to help other individuals and families offer the same service nationwide.  “Each week we receive calls and emails from people looking for meal solutions from every part of the country.  Instead of trying to find ways to ship nationwide, we spend our time helping others learn to provide the same service in their local community.   We envision an America where there is a locally owned meal solutions business in every city and town, as well as local family farms to provide whole food ingredients to these businesses.”

In time, we may find that gluten-free restaurants become a normal sight.  Until then, it’s likely that people will continue to search out local experts to provide meal solutions that meet each individual’s unique needs.

#  #  #

---

Taking care of the caretaker

A new national survey of over one thousand caretakers has just been released.  This survey indicates that the most common struggle among the caretakers of people with diabetes is difficulty associated with helping their loved one follow a diabetic diet.  As a matter of fact, over half of the respondents indicated that they struggle with cooking, meal planning, or non-compliance.  An additional 12% of those caretakers reported that their own stress and emotional health was a concern because of the challenge of being an unpaid caretaker.

“Caregivers are involved with a wide range of diabetes-related responsibilities and, as a result, many report some social and personal health sacrifices due to their caregiving,” said Gail Hunt, of the National Alliance for Caregiving.  Many caregivers turn to outside service providers to find ways to reduce their stress while still providing the best possible care for their loved ones. 

These findings come as no surprise to Stacey Davis of Advantage Meal Solutions, a national network of locally owned businesses that each provide local home-cooked meal solutions.   “Next to delivered weight loss meals, our meal solutions business owners tell us that the steadiest demand for service is from caretakers who need assistance in providing for their loved ones with diabetes and other illnesses,” said Davis.  “We are fortunate that the recipes in our menu rotation easily meet the guidelines for healthy eating of the American Diabetes Association.” 

Live in caretakers must remember that taking care of themselves has to be the first priority.  So often the rigors and stress associated with daily caretaking take a toll on the health of the caretaker.  When the caretaker becomes ill, then everyone suffers.  Caretakers need to make time for themselves.  Social time, exercise time, and time outside can do wonders for the health of those who are committed to taking care of others.

The forgotten caretaker is often family who lives elsewhere but still deal daily with the stress of finding ways to help their loved ones.  Many make long and tiring trips on a regular basis to provide basic in-home assistance. For many of these absentee caretakers, it is a great struggle to find trustworthy local assistance that can take some of the burden of care.

Advantage Meal Solutions’ data shows that nearly 20% of their healthy meal delivery clients (seniors, those on medically restricted diets, and those with a short term illness or injury) have their in-home meal service either provided for or supplemented by children and family who live elsewhere.  There are wonderful government subsidized programs like Meals on Wheels, but even those services leave holes for evening and weekend meals that locally owned meal solution business have began to fill for burdened caretakers.

As America’s baby-boomer population continues to age more of us will face the challenges of diabetes and other adult onset illness.  Not only will we begin to better understand the new challenges of in-home-aging, but we will begin to understand the toll that task will take upon the new generation of caretakers.  America is blessed to have a wonderful organization like the National Alliance for Caregiving and growing franchise opportunities like Advantage Meal Solutions to help us all age with independence and dignity. 

About the National Alliance for Caregiving

About Advantage Meal Solutions