Food is Medicine
Food is Medicine refers to a spectrum of food-based interventions integrated into health care to prevent, manage, or treat chronic diseases. These include programs such as:
- Medically Tailored Meals
- Produce Prescription Programs (RxProduce)
- Nutrition Incentives at Clinics or Pharmacies
- On-site Teaching Kitchens and Cooking Classes
Food is Medicine event in Pikeville, Kentucky
Food is Medicine describes a way to treat and prevent diet-related medical conditions by providing patients with access to healthy foods, education around cooking and nutrition, and support for adopting healthy eating habits into their everyday lives, while impacting the economic bottom line of Kentucky Agriculture Producers.
- FIM programs are an innovative (but common sense) approach to health care and a transformative way to consider holistic health.
- Patients can receive meals tailored to their individual food preferences and medical needs, and prescriptions for accessing healthy groceries. They work with their health care provider to create a plan that’s right for them, which might include guidance for preparing nourishing meals for themselves and their families.
- FIM programs prioritize giving people the foundation to make healthy choices and supporting local producers to be the provider of these healthy choices. In turn, a healthier Commonwealth is possible.
There is demand for and interest in Food is Medicine Programs:
- Kentuckians believe in the power of healthy food and nutrition to treat and manage chronic illness.
- More than 4 in 5 Americans believe health care should offer more food and nutrition programs to treat and manage illnesses.
- Nearly 9 in 10 patients would prefer to rely more on healthy eating than on medications to manage their condition.
- Nearly 4 in 5 Americans think Food is Medicine programs should be covered by both public and private insurance – including 85% of Democrats and 78% of Republicans.