A healthy plate shouldn’t depend on your zip code.

paris richardson
Jun 5
3 min read

Updated: Aug 2

Personal Connection

Nutrition has always been a part of my story, but not in the polished, perfect-meal-prep way. Growing up, I knew students who relied on school breakfast and lunch because there wasn’t always food at home. I knew what it looked like to stretch a pantry and make it work. That’s why Nutrition is a non-negotiable part of my CROWN of Health platform. It’s not just about what we eat, but about what we can eat and access in the first place.

Wellness Starts With What We’re Fed

You can’t talk about wellness without talking about nutrition. What we put into our bodies impacts our energy, our focus, our growth, and even our ability to fight off illness. But the truth is wellness is hard to achieve when your fridge is empty or your grocery store is 30 minutes away.

That’s why food insecurity is a wellness issue. And food education is a public health solution.

When students skip meals, rely on convenience store snacks, or grow up not knowing how to nourish their bodies, that’s not a lack of willpower. That’s a gap in access. And through CROWN of Health, I’m working to help close that gap.

Why Nutrition Really Matters

It’s not just about fruits and vegetables. It’s about how nutrition shapes the entire student experience.

When students have access to healthy food, they’re not just eating better, they’re learning better, thinking clearer, and growing stronger.

🧠 Better Focus & Memory: Balanced meals help fuel the brain, improving concentration, retention, and academic performance.
⚡ Sustained Energy: Healthy eating keeps students energized throughout the school day, helping them stay alert, engaged, and on task.
🛡️ Fewer Sick Days: Good nutrition supports a strong immune system, reducing absences and promoting consistent classroom attendance.
⚖️ Healthy Growth & Weight: Nutritious meals help students maintain a healthy weight, lowering the risk of chronic illnesses.
💬 Mental & Emotional Benefits: A nourishing diet supports emotional regulation, boosts self-esteem, and even reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.

So when we talk about wellness, we can’t ignore the foundation—nutrition. It’s the difference between just getting through the day and actually thriving in it.

Health in Action

I’ve had the privilege of working with local community gardens that grow fresh produce right in neighborhoods where grocery options are limited. These spaces are more than just plots of soil. They’re places where families learn how to grow their own food, where kids pick vegetables they’ve only seen in textbooks, and where nutrition becomes community care.

I also regularly support and volunteer with food pantries that serve families right here in Florida. These organizations don’t just hand out food. They provide dignity, resources, and often nutrition education to help people make the most of what they receive.

How CROWN Is Taking Action

The Not-So-Perfect Garden Project: My children’s book and classroom activity series introduces students to concepts of food access, healthy habits, and growing their own gardens. During school visits, I sit with students as they complete their wellness activity books and they share real stories of helping in family gardens or relying on school meals to get by.
1,600 Meals and Counting: For every book sold, $1 is donated to Feeding Northeast Florida, where I've raised funds for over 1,600 meals so far.
Pop-Up Education at Gardens and Pantries: I’ve helped coordinate school drives, recipe demos, and nutrition handouts in collaboration with local community gardens and food banks. These experiences bring health education directly into the places where it’s most needed.

Get Involved

DM me “NUTRITION” to get involved with The Not-So-Perfect Garden Project, sponsor a classroom set of books, or join an upcoming food pantry or garden day.
Want to host a community cooking demo or help expand school nutrition programming? Let’s team up.

Together, we’re growing something that nourishes minds, bodies, and futures.