Imagine being a parent who works two jobs but still can’t buy fresh food nearby. For millions of families across the U.S., that’s a daily reality.
In Episode 2 of A Dose of Optimism, host Omkar Kulkarni talks with Dr. Jessica Knurick, a nutrition scientist and social media powerhouse known for breaking down nutrition myths, and Adam Dole, co-founder of Bento, a company redefining how families access healthy food.
Jessica explains how food deserts aren’t just rural problems. There are urban neighborhoods intentionally left without access to grocery stores, fresh produce, or reliable transportation, the result of decades of structural inequality.
“Low-income populations are five times more likely to report poor health,” she says. “When you look at who’s most affected, it’s clear that our food system wasn’t built for equity.”
Enter Bento, a simple but revolutionary platform that lets families text a code like “HUNGRY” to receive prepaid grocery deliveries from stores like Whole Foods, Albertsons, or Kroger. No paperwork. No waiting in line. No stigma.
As Adam shares, “We wanted to give people access to nutritious food in a way that maintains their dignity, the same way you and I shop.”
Named one of TIME’s Best Inventions and a Fast Company World Changing Idea, Bento’s approach proves that technology and empathy can coexist, and that healthcare isn’t just about medicine. It’s about meeting basic human needs with respect.
Key Topics Discussed:
- What are food deserts are, and why they’re often urban, not rural
- How poverty and policy shape children’s access to nutritious food
- The power of screening for food insecurity in pediatric care
- How Bento connects families to groceries through text (no stigma attached)
- Why dignity matters as much as nutrition in addressing food insecurity
- The case for integrating nutrition, healthcare, and technology
Listen to the full episode and get your dose of optimism about the future of food, health, and innovation.
About Jessica Knurick:
Dr. Jessica Knurick is a science communicator and nutrition scientist, specializing in chronic disease prevention. She educates on nutrition science, food and nutrition policy, and how these forces shape public health.
Known for her clear, evidence-based communication, Dr. Jessica helps people navigate nutrition information with a critical eye, breaking down complex topics and addressing common misconceptions. As a science communicator, she is passionate about making science accessible, practical, and grounded in real-world impact.
About Adam Dole:
Adam Dole is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Bento. Prior to starting Bento, Adam served as the Managing Director of Los Angeles based technology incubator, Not Impossible Labs, whose focus is on creating technology for the sake of humanity that addresses society’s most critical unmet needs. Adam began his career at NASA and was later named a Presidential Innovation Fellow where he served in the White House under the Obama Administration, responsible for injecting entrepreneurial horsepower into high impact government initiatives and helping to position the federal government as a platform for private sector innovation through the development of unique public/private partnerships and business models. Adam was also a former Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Mayo Clinic where he co-founded, operated and invested in early stage healthcare startups aimed at addressing the nation’s healthcare crisis. Adam is currently based in Los Angeles.
