Food has long been a staple of bringing people together, and whether it be for special occasions or everyday meals, home cooks are always on the lookout for new and enticing recipes to impress their loved ones. To help with this and also shine light on the issue of food insecurity in Iowa communities, the Food Bank of Iowa is unveiling a new recipe book that is sure to surprise and delight those who use it.

During the 2022 Iowa State Fair, Nationwide sponsored the second annual Food Bank of Iowa Chopped – Hot Dish Edition cooking competition. Participants showcased their best recipes using ingredients easily found in local food pantries. The winning recipes from this year’s contest and last year’s competition are now available in the “2022 Chopped – Hot Dish Edition Cookbook” which is free for anyone to download, enjoy and share. 

“Raising awareness comes in many forms and we’ll continue to look for creative ways to help,” says Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness and a member of the board of directors at Food Bank of Iowa and guest judge for the cooking competition. “Whether it’s volunteering at the food pantry, talking about hunger issues, trying a new recipe or sharing the cookbook with someone who might need or enjoy it, we can all take part in raising broader awareness of the difficulties many families face in obtaining nutritious food.” 

In 2022, the Food Bank of Iowa served 568,717 households and 1.5 million individuals.

“It’s incredibly rewarding for Nationwide to partner with local organizations like Food Bank of Iowa to help provide nutritious meals to hundreds of thousands of families throughout the year,” says Liggett. 

For more information on how to donate to the Food Bank of Iowa, visit https://foodbankiowa.org/donate.