Giving Tuesday: Join Ahimsa's Fight Against Food Insecurity
|
|
Time to Read: 4 min
Our Fight Against Food Insecurity
Ahimsa’s primary mission is to get healthy food to ALL children. We understand that for many families, plates don’t matter if there’s nothing to put on them. This is why we have teamed up with The Patachou Foundation – to get plastic OFF the table and healthy food ON it!
Just last month the American Academy of Pediatrics published a study in the journal Pediatrics regarding the long-term, negative health effects food insecurity has on children.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
According to the AAP, in 2017 around 15-million households in the U.S. were food insecure – meaning those families lacked “enough food for an active, healthy life.” Where food insecurity has improved over that last ten years, the AAP says “current levels are as high or higher than at any point in the ten years before the Great Recession.”
The study finds that “household food insecurity was related to significantly worse general health, some acute and chronic health problems, and worse healthcare access”. Since childhood food insecurity is an important public health problem, we want to help.
Along with joining The Patachou Foundation to promote “The Kids Table,” Ahimsa has added a direct way you can donate to the foundation as you checkout on our website. If you’ve been waiting to buy your sets, today would be the perfect time as you’ll be receiving something safe, non-toxic and sustainable for your family while also helping eradicate food insecurity one table at a time. If you’d prefer, you can also simply donate directly by clicking here.
No child should be without access to healthy food. As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “In a gentle way, we can shake the world.” Please join us in helping the Patachou Foundation address this important issue for kids in our own community.
To learn more about Ahimsa or related articles, please see Our Story, Community and Hello World! Meet Manasa, Founder of Ahimsa, the world's first and only colorful stainless steel dinnerware for kids
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Mealtime Essentials from Ahimsa
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
