What is Food as Medicine?
Food as Medicine, also commonly known as Food is Medicine, refers to a spectrum of health interventions and programs aimed at increasing access to nutritious foods and nutrition education to improve the health outcomes of food insecure individuals living with diet-related chronic disease.
These interventions vary based on the health and social care needs of the individual. They can be used both for prevention and treatment of a variety of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, renal disease, obesity, and more. Eligible individuals are usually enrolled by a medical provider, and program services are typically offered at no cost to the participant.
Common FAM Interventions
Produce Prescriptions
Vouchers for free or reduced-cost fresh produce that can be used at participating food retailers, farmer's markets, and other suppliers.
Medically Tailored Groceries
Healthy, unprepared food items preselected by a registered dietitian or other qualified professional, sufficient to prepare nutritionally complete meals that are tailored to specific diagnoses and medical needs.
Medically Supportive Groceries
Also referred to as "pantry stocking." Packages of food items that meet general health recommendations, such as the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Medically Tailored Meals
Fully prepared, home-delivered meals, tailored by a registered dietitian to the medical needs of individuals living with severe chronic illness or have been recently discharged from an inpatient hospital stay.
Food Farmacy
Programs that provide access to discounted or free produce and other healthy food items in the form of a food pantry or food box. Often co-located within health care facilities.
Nutrition and Culinary Education
May include medical nutrition therapy with a registered dietitian, group nutrition classes, behavioral education, and healthy cooking classes. Typically a core component alongside most FAM programs.
The Food is Medicine Pyramid
Developed by the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, the Food is Medicine Pyramid displays FAM interventions by intensity, from population-level prevention to individual treatment. The pyramid is used as a guide to selecting appropriate interventions.
