In a bustling kitchen on Martin Luther King Drive in Milwaukee’s Hyland Park neighborhood, an innovative nonprofit is proving that nutritious food can do more than satisfy hunger—it can transform lives.
Food for Health, the first and only medically tailored meal (MTM) provider based in Wisconsin, is on a mission to combat diet-related disease with personalized meal plans, health coaching, and community-based support.
Identified as a social enterprise organization, Food for Health is a business that uses commercial strategies to address social or environmental problems, prioritizing social impact alongside profits, and often reinvesting profits back into the mission to ensure long-term sustainability.
“Our vision is that when the for-profit or the fee-for-service model reaches profitability, 100% of those profits would be endowed up to the public charity to bring full self-sustainability to the nonprofit,” said Kathy Koshgarian, President and CEO of Food for Health.
A comprehensive approach to health
Food for Health’s flagship offering is the B3 Healthy program, a 12-month immersive experience focused on whole-person care. Participants receive 10 fresh, medically tailored meals delivered weekly to their homes, along with biometric screenings, a dedicated health coach, and educational resources. The program is designed to serve those living with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, maternal health issues, and cardiovascular disease.
“We focus on whole person health,” Koshgarian explained. “That’s why we wrap around our participants with food, fitness, and focus—because knowledge and behavior are just as important as what’s on your plate.”
In addition to its kitchen and distribution space, the organization’s headquarters includes a fitness zone and classrooms for lifestyle education. Its commitment to local impact extends to hiring practices. Food for Health prioritizes employing neighborhood residents and sourcing fresh ingredients from Wisconsin producers and local brokers whenever possible.
“It is extremely important to hire direct from the community,” Koshgarian said. “It’s about transforming and positively impacting our employees’ lives and providing earning potential close to home.”
Addressing an urgent need
The stakes in Wisconsin are high. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the state, responsible for 22% of all deaths in 2022. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80% of premature heart disease and strokes can be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.
Food for Health aims to tackle those root causes through evidence-based nutrition and wellness programming. As of January 2025, Wisconsin Medicaid began offering reimbursement for medically tailored meals for select populations. The benefit applies to individuals with diabetes, heart disease, or high-risk pregnancies, but its implementation is up to individual HMOs.
“I’m hopeful we’ll start to see rollout in the second half of 2025,” said Koshgarian. “But for commercial insurance plans, we’re still years away.”
“We are the solution to solve for nutritional need and to reverse the epidemic that exists of diet-related disease through the most efficacious solution and the basic human right of nutritious food. To me it’s a civic challenge, a societal challenge and an individual challenge to support and amplify the fact that there is a solution—and at Food for Health, we provide that solution.”
Kathy Koshgarian, President and CEO of Food for Health
Support the mission
“Food for Health is Milwaukee’s best kept secret. We don’t want to be a secret any longer,” Koshgarian said with a smile.
Food for Health offers several ways for individuals, employers, and community members to get involved. Traditional routes like donations and volunteering are always welcome, but Koshgarian emphasizes that raising awareness can also be impactful.
“Sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media, refer someone to the program, or consider us for healthy catering,” she said. “There are so many ways to help.”
The organization also rents out its facility for events and offers its fresh, flavorful meals through a catering service, providing additional opportunities to support the mission.
To learn more about Food for Health, connect with the organization here.