How Cuisine for Healing uses food as medicine for Fort Worth residents

In the heart of Fort Worth, a quiet revolution is stirring—but it’s not one you’d expect in a kitchen. At Cuisine for Healing, healthy, organic and meticulously crafted meals serve as both nourishment and medicine for those navigating life’s most demanding health challenges.

Founded in 2006 by Wendy Wilkie during her courageous battle with Stage IV bone and liver cancer, Cuisine for Healing emerged from a deeply personal need.

Wilkie believed that food—proper, wholesome food—could offer strength where medical treatments alone often fell short.

She struggled to find guidance and quality ingredients amid her illness. When she passed in 2008, her vision lived on through her friends and supporters, who transformed her plight into a lifeline for others Today, it’s a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to “making nutritious, delicious food readily available to people combating disease.”

The nonprofit’s mission is clear: to harness the healing power of organic, nutrient-dense meals and companion educational resources to bolster long-term health.

Their meals follow strict CFH Certification guidelines, ensuring they’re free from hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, refined sugars, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, MSG, trans fats and even farm-raised fish.

Instead, ingredients include organic, free-range, and hormone-free proteins; ocean-caught fish; locally sourced organic produce; whole grains; and house-made dressings.

Cuisine for Healing operates two key programs under its Community Food Program:

• Medically Referred Clients: Those referred by medical partners receive up to 10 fresh, organic meals per week—lunch and dinner—free of charge, delivered right to their doors for up to 12 weeks.

• Meals for Purchase: Individuals seeking clean, nutritious meals—but who may not qualify for referrals—can buy them affordably, either for themselves or to gift others who could benefit.

Executive director Zelphany Gates, a staff of seven, plus a handful of dedicated volunteers, steer the operation: from kitchen prep and packaging, to delivery—often traveling thousands of miles annually to serve Tarrant County residents.

For many recipients, Cuisine for Healing has been nothing short of transformative:

“After my mastectomy, there were CFH meals in my refrigerator when I got home. My doctor was amazed at the rate of my recovery... the only variable in the recovery treatment was the meals,” said one client.

These stories underscore how thoughtfully prepared meals can provide not just physical sustenance, but emotional and spiritual support during crisis.

More than 200,000 meals were prepared and delivered as of July 2025—a testimony to both growing demand and the organization’s capacity

More than just meals, Cuisine for Healing delivers empowerment. By delivering nutrient-rich, organic food and equipping clients with knowledge, they foster healing from the inside out. The nonprofit proves that food isn’t just fuel—it’s compassion, medicine and community.

For more information, visit cuisineforhealing.org.