Bodega Fresca Empowers Youth with Healthy Bodega Choices

 

This blog post was written by Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH.

Kids deserve access to healthy, affordable food. Unfortunately, junk foods and sugary beverages are heavily marketed to youth, especially in communities of color, making these unhealthy items too convenient for them to purchase. This leads to poor health outcomes, with 55.8% of Bronx youth consuming at least one sugary beverage per day, and making 36.4% of them overweight or obese, according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Bronx Health REACH’s Bodega Fresca pilot project is focused on making healthy, affordable food options available in Bronx bodegas, and spreading the word to students and staff at neighborhood schools.

Since Spring 2025, Bronx Health REACH, in partnership with the Bodega and Small Business Group, Collective Fare, and the FRESCH initiative’s Shen’naque Sean Butler, have been testing our healthy grab-and-go items in bodegas in the Hunts Point and Longwood communities of the Bronx. The goal of this pilot project is to build sufficient supply and demand to establish an economically viable delivery route.  To determine which healthy products consumers would purchase, we provided taste testings of these products at participating bodegas during afterschool hours, with youth from nearby schools, as well as bodega customers and other community members, and surveyed them for their feedback. We also held taste testings at several schools in June 2025. We have used the feedback to identify which healthy products were most popular and which ones could be improved to better match the community’s tastes. 

These healthy offerings included: Mangú-Stuffed Empanaditas, Jerk Chicken Wraps, Watermelon-Cucumber Salad with Tajin-Lime Dressing, Coconut-Guava Energy Bites and Tropical Mint Cooler juice with pineapple, cucumber, lime and mint. Feedback for these products has been positive. As the Bodega Fresca team balances costs of production, distribution, and shelf life, items currently being sold in stores include two types of energy bites and three types of juices: Red Refresh Lemonade, Tropical Mint Cooler, and Coconut Ginger Glow.

This is not the first time that Bronx Health REACH has worked with local schools to promote healthy bodega initiatives. We did so previously during the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh campaign in 2018-2019, and through the FRESCH initiative in 2020. These projects brought students to their nearby bodegas to request healthy options be sold there. This provided the students with an opportunity to learn about the importance of healthy eating and be empowered to take leadership around food justice advocacy. Also, Bronx Health REACH partner, the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center, had their Youth Food Justice Club members survey the local community’s food options to better understand the limitations in accessing healthy food options. 

Such initiatives around promoting healthy options for youth naturally fit into the aims of school wellness councils. Many schools that have wellness councils want to focus on nutrition and promoting healthy eating.  Some schools have started school gardens and some promote healthy bodega food options to students. 

Our experience over the years tells us that kids want more information about what’s in their foods and beverages. In 2019, Bronx Health REACH and the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy organized a focus group study to better understand youth perspectives on sugary beverages as well as youth opinions about messages intended to dissuade them from drinking these beverages. Findings from that study found that, Bronx youth acknowledged that sugary beverages are not healthy, that corporations can be manipulative, and that more should be done to communicate to youth about the health risks of these products. Those that participated in the focus group said that if healthier options were advertised to them, it could be influential in encouraging them and their peers to choose the healthier options. One participant said, “If you were to make a new type of drink and then put a cool name, and then lower down the sodium, the calories and the sugar and the carbohydrates, I mean it could be the new hit thing that people would want to drink to get healthy.”

Collective Fare, which is producing the grab-and-go products for the Bodega Fresca pilot, has created a Brand Ambassador Toolkit with information about the health benefits and other appealing aspects of the new line of products. This can be an entry point for schools that want to empower their students to be food justice advocates in their local community.

The Bodega Fresca project has shown promising signs for the Bronx community.  It is endorsed by Bronx Borough President Vanessa L Gibson and Francisco Marte, President of the Bodega and Small Business Group. Borough President Gibson, in an op-ed on the importance of this initiative for the Bronx Times and AMNY wrote, “I urge all of our residents to join us in bringing healthier options to our bodegas, because Healthy Bodegas make Healthy Communities.” 

If your school would like to partner with Bronx Health REACH to schedule a taste testing event or a Brand Ambassador training, please contact Diana Bernal at dibernal@institute.org

Bronx Health REACH Vaccine Initiative Updates

 Bronx Health REACH hosted a webinar, "What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?" 

"What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?" Webinar

Bronx Health REACH hosted a webinar, "What Should I Know Right Now About Adult and Child Vaccines?" Panelists included Dr. Ani Bodoutchian from the NY State Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Bindy Crouch from NYC Dept of Health & Mental Hygiene, Dr. Maria "Masha" Gervits from the Institute of Family Health (IFH) Cadman Health Center, and Dr. Eugene Schiff from IFH Stevenson Health Center. The webinar was moderated by BHR's Moria Byrne-Zaaloff, Program Manager for the Community Vaccine Initiative.

Dr. Ani Budhachan expressed alarm at the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decision changing vaccine guidance, especially around COVID-19, because of the confusion and undermining of public trust that may result. “If vaccines move from being recommended to being optional, will insurance companies continue to cover them?” asked Dr. Budhachan.

Dr. Bindi Crouch was also concerned about whether insurance will cover all vaccinations bringing into question vaccine future affordability. She was able to at least reassure attendees that the vaccine supply of flu, COVID-19, and RSV for the fall is stable. “We're not expecting vaccine shortages,” said Dr. Crouch.

Dr. Maria "Masha" Gervits shared that safety and the need for vaccines during pregnancy are the most common concerns she hears from patients. “Patients often say they’ll wait until after pregnancy to get vaccinated, but vaccines like COVID-19 and flu are essential because they protect both the pregnant person and the baby from serious illness or complications,” said Dr. Gervits.

Dr. Eugene Schiff pointed out that he believes the flu vaccine remains underutilized as many of his patients are asking if vaccines are safe and necessary as they hear conflicting messages from social media and the news. He responds by educating his patients about the benefits of vaccines, as well as the risks of skipping vaccinations. “Vaccines aren’t just about the individual, vaccines protect our families, and our communities, especially those who are most vulnerable,” said Dr. Schiff.

Doula/Perinatal Care Navigator COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Education Pilot

To increase vaccinations for pregnant and breastfeeding women, Bronx Health REACH, in collaboration with the Institute for Family Health’s Perinatal Care Program and Bronx ReBirth and Progress, launched a Doula/Perinatal Care Navigator COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Education project. The doulas and perinatal navigators received training and a toolkit of culturally-responsive approaches to educate pregnant and breastfeeding women about vaccinations. Rooted LLC, a company providing culturally-empowering, holistic doula pre and post-natal physical and mental health services to pregnant and breastfeeding people, developed the training module and toolkit.

Twelve doulas and three care navigators were trained using a person-centered approach that respects patients’ diverse experiences. The doulas, in turn, educated 27 pregnant and breastfeeding women through open, judgment-free conversations during their appointments with their doula. Some doulas voiced initial concerns—especially around high-risk pregnancies—but found that their trusted relationships helped patients better understand vaccine safety.

Clients appreciated the safe space doulas created for them to feel free to discuss their vaccine concerns. Some expressed that they feared judgement from family or felt pressured by providers, but doulas helped them feel heard and empowered to make their own informed choices about vaccinations. Many were surprised to learn that choosing not to vaccinate could jeopardize not only their own health, but that of their their baby’s as well.

Adult Vaccine Communications Campaign

BHR is planning two adult vaccine media campaigns. The first will be launched in the next few days and will provide the needed facts to counter much of the common vaccine misinformation. In the fall, BHR will be rolling out the second which will focus  on adults 50 years and older encouraging them to receive their Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis), Shingles, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), and Pneumococcal vaccines. Surveys completed by BHR revealed that Bronx adults 50+ had the lowest rates of vaccines. CauseLab, a media agency that produced previous BHR vaccine campaigns will produce a video and printed material including palm cards and posters, and other media to run on LinkNYC kiosks and social media.

Bronx Health REACH Calls for MTA to Reinstate Alcohol Ad Ban

Photo above from October 20217. 

In 2017 the NYC MTA voted to ban alcohol ads on subways, buses and trains, a result of a city wide grassroots campaign of Building Alcohol Ad-Free Transit (BAAFT) and Bronx Health REACH coalition members who gathered petition signatures, held rallies, and provided testimonies at various MTA public hearings prior to the Board's voting. But this was recently reversed by the MTA board. Citing a $7 million annual loss in revenue attributed to the ban, the Board voted to bring the alcohol ads back. In response to this vote, Bronx Health REACH, Interfaith Public Health Network and other medical and faith leaders held a rally about the public health risks of alcohol marketing on public transit, particularly its impact on youth, people in recovery, and communities of color, and called for the MTA board to reinstate its 2017 ban on alcohol advertising across subways, buses, and train stations.

"BHR was proud to have been part of the grassroots effort that successfully advocated with the MTA to ban alcohol advertising from its transit system several years ago. It was true then and is true now, that alcohol advertisers specifically target susceptible communities like the Bronx. That MTA win meant one less battle for the Bronx and similar communities in the fight for a healthy environment. We cannot go back," said Charmaine Ruddock in a press release prior to the MTA's vote to reverse the ban.

Fox5 NY spoke with BHR's Charmaine Ruddock about the MTA reversing the ban. 

Bronx Health REACH Leads Voter Engagement Efforts for the People's Money

 

BHR community health workers Joseph Ellis, Felix Rojas and Cheikhou Oumar Ann doing voter outreach for "The People's Money." 

In May to June, BHR was one of 80 New York City community partners doing voter outreach as part of the NYC Civic Engagement Commission’s (CEC) “The People’s Money.” The People’s Money empowers New Yorkers to fund solutions addressing community needs ranging from education, mental health needs, or food access. All NYC residents ages 11 and older, regardless of immigration status, were eligible to vote on how to spend $4M of the city budget to address their community needs. Some of the Bronx ballot ideas included: Multi-Lingual Community Mental Health, STEM Enrichment for Bronx Youth & Teens and Support People with Housing Advocacy Groups. BHR's community health workers Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Joseph Ellis and Felix Rojas successfully outreached to Bronx residents resulting in 685 votes.

Bronx Health REACH and the #Not62: Campaign for a Healthy Bronx Steering Committee Talks About Strategic Plan for a Healthier Bronx on Open TV Show

 Left to Right: Dr. Bob Lee, Charmaine Ruddock, Rev. Dr. Wendy Kelly-Carter, and Liz Spurrell-Huss.

Members of the Bronx Health REACH (BHR) Health Disparities Workgroup and the steering committee for #Not62 - The Campaign for a Healthy Bronx, Rev. Dr. Wendy Kelly-Carter, BHR's Charmaine Ruddock and Liz Spurrell-Huss from Montefiore Health System, appeared on the Bronxnet show, Open, to discuss their five-year plan to reverse the Bronx’s last place health ranking among New York State counties by addressing systemic health disparities. They spoke about the 2025 Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings and Roadmaps Report, and the continuing poor health outcomes of the Bronx.

To address these poor health outcomes, the #Not62 Steering Committee has begun work on a five year strategic plan, with an initial focus on food and nutrition, and mental health. This plan advocates for the following policies:

 

• Support NYC Council INT-0641, which sets nutrition standards for children’s meals at restaurants.

• Permanently fund Health Bucks in the New York City budget.

• Restrict the content and placement of sugary drink advertisements directed towards youth on all media including television, radio, internet, outdoor displays, etc. through state laws, local ordinances, industry self-regulation, or a combination thereof. 

• Fund “Healthy Destinations” that use a place-based approach to identify barriers to health and identify and promote the local solutions. 

• A seven point mental health component has also been prioritized as part of the five year strategic plan. 

Click here to watch the full interview.

9 Bronx Bodegas Sell Healthy, Affordable Snacks as Part of a Healthy Bodega Pilot

 Nine Bronx bodegas have been selling healthy, delicious snacks as part of the Healthy Bodega pilot. 

Nine Bronx bodegas have been selling Healthy Bodega/Bodega Fresca, a line of healthy, delicious and affordable Latin-Caribbean-inspired Grab-and-Go meals, as part of a Healthy Bodega pilot. Bronx Health REACH received funding from the New York Health Foundation to collaborate with Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG), Collective Fare, Shen’naque Sean Butler of FRESCH, and others to pilot a sustainable business model for bodegas to sell healthy, culturally relevant grab-and-go items, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx.

The pilot builds on BHR's more than two decades of grassroots food justice advocacy in the South Bronx to encourage bodegas to sell healthier food. Over the last decade, collaborating with the Bodega and Small Business Group (the bodega trade association), and, more recently with the FRESCH Initiative, founded and led by Shen’naque Sean Butler, and NYU's Stern School of Business, we have worked to identify and address the barriers bodegas face to selling healthy food. With this current effort, involving the creation of eight healthy food offerings by Collective Fare, customer and store-owner feedback was solicited and confirmed that these products are not just welcomed but highly desired, reinforcing the need for healthier, more affordable options in local bodegas. 

 A media event was held in May with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L Gibson, Bronx Health REACH/The Institute for Family Health, Francisco Marte (President of the Bodega and Small Business Group/BSBG), LaToya Meaders (CEO of Collective Fare Kitchen and Market), and Shen’naque Sean Butler (Founder of FRESCH Initiative) attending. 

  

Click to view News12 The Bronx story about the launch.