That’s what Bedford Rotarians were finding out at their Tuesday (1/14) meeting’s taste test of seven different meal options offered by Meals of Hope.
Why? Because planning is well underway for Hope for the Hungry 2025, this year’s annual Rotary Club of Bedford meal-packing project to combat food insecurity. Meals of Hope, the club’s backbone project partner, continues to help guide the effort and its local food-insecurity focus.
Jack Day, Vice President and Meals of Hope’s northeast leader, strategist, and meal-packing coordinator, accompanied by the club’s Hope for the Hungry team leader, Debi Malone, served up a mini smorgasbord of seven different meals to taste. Ultimately, one will be the winning selection for packaging at the Saturday, April 26th, meal-packing event.
The array of meals tasted included Chicken-flavored Veggie Rice Soup, Mac ‘n Cheese, Pasta & Tomato Sauce, a Soy Chicken meal, a Lentils & Rice meal, Oatmeal (a “breakfast”-type option), and Beans & Rice, last year’s packed meal which didn’t get great reviews.
Joining club members for Jack’s presentation and the tasting was Christine Speciale, representing the Merrimack Valley Food Bank (MVFB), the primary customer for the meals that will be packed. Her taste-test opinion pointed toward several that she believed would be most popular with the food-insecure clients of the local community food panties that MVFB supplies.
Taste-test reactions from Rotarians were varied. Everyone agreed that all of the options were good and some very good. High marks went to Mac ‘n Cheese, Oatmeal, Soy Chicken, and the Chicken Veggie Rice Soup. However, there were some outlier tasters whose opinions contested those of other club members.
Which one won out? Which meal will we be packing in April?
Stay Tuned!!