What’s for dinner, Cleveland? (And breakfast? And lunch?)
You might want to know why I’m asking.
I’m a Cleveland health reporter. And over the past year, I’ve heard from community members that the food they’re able to put on their plate is just as important to their health as the care they get from the doctor. But for many, getting enough of the food they want to eat is growing tougher.
Grocery prices are spiking, sending more people in Northeast Ohio to food banks and pantries. Thousands of Cuyahoga County residents lost or dropped out of SNAP (government food assistance) in the lead up to federal cuts. And some Cleveland neighborhoods watched over the past decade as nearby grocery stores closed.
But unlike a natural disaster or a crime scene, families largely adjust to these changes behind closed doors and with shifting budgets.
That’s where I need your help.
I’m searching for Clevelanders who are open to sharing a behind-the-scenes look at what they eat in a day or a week. That could mean letting me shadow you to the grocery store, dinner or drive-through. Or perhaps you’d rather keep track of your food with photos or a journal, then speak with me later. There’s a lot of ways we can do this — and if you have an idea, I’m open to hearing it!
The end result may be a video or written article with photos. It’s sort of like the “what I eat in a day” trend on social media, but with more of a focus on why.
I know conversations about what we eat can be vulnerable. When I thought about sharing what I eat in a day, I immediately felt nervous. Would I be judged for shopping at Walmart, picking up McDonald’s or getting my groceries delivered?
That’s not the point of this project. Instead, I want to talk with you about the bigger picture of what shapes what ends up on your plate: the prices, the public transportation, the stores nearby, time we have in the day, our culture and even our physical ability to cook. For me, I’m typically balancing cost, my limited hours after work and what I like to eat.
A lot of Clevelanders are finding ways to feed their families with tight budgets. I’ve already chatted with many. A mom who coupons to make sure her toddler gets fresh veggies. Older adults who supplement grocery store trips with food bank runs. Others have come up with creative solutions as grocery stores in their neighborhoods close: RevLove Farms in Mt. Pleasant started up after the Giant Eagle on Buckeye closed in 2017, said Jermaine Wheeler, the farm manager. Now, the urban farm grows everything from blackberries to tomatoes, selling the produce at local markets.
Here’s how we’ll work with Cleveland residents to talk food, grocery prices and more
Every Cleveland resident has a story to tell about how they get their food and what they eat. If you’re open to sharing more about it, here’s some information about what participating will look like:
- Anyone can participate in this project, including groups of people and families. My only request is that you live in Cleveland or a nearby suburb.
- Fill out the form below to have an initial conversation with me.
- Once we connect, we’ll figure out the best way to hear your food story. Perhaps I shadow you to the grocery store, or you snap photos of meals on your phone.
- After you document your meals, we’ll connect again and talk about what you shared before we publish anything.
This isn’t set in stone. Signal Cleveland’s never done this before, so it’s possible that the stories we explore will look different than how it’s imagined here. If you have any suggestions or questions — or you think you might be interested but aren’t sure — please fill out the form below.
