Lanakila Pacific Kitchen has a long history of preparing meals that support health, independence, and opportunity for individuals with disabilities and seniors across our community through programs like Lanakila Pacific Meals on Wheels. As part of its ongoing commitment to learning and innovation, the organization is exploring whether medically tailored meals could one day be offered as an additional option for Meals on Wheels recipients with specific health‑related dietary needs.
Lanakila Pacific was recently invited to join a national Food Is Medicine cohort — a learning opportunity focused on how nutrition can support individuals managing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. Participation in the cohort allows Lanakila Pacific to learn from healthcare and nutrition partners nationwide and thoughtfully examine how medically tailored meals might complement existing Meals on Wheels offerings in the future.
“Medically tailored meals are designed for people whose health conditions require specific nutrition,” said Reid Yasunaga, director of food services at Lanakila Pacific Kitchen.
While still in an exploratory phase, this work reflects Lanakila Pacific’s continued focus on innovative, mission‑aligned approaches that support individuals with disabilities and seniors islandwide.