What Is Food as Medicine?

Healthy eating patterns can reduce the risk of many health conditions. But for some people, eating healthily is more complicated than simply choosing what to eat.

Obstacles to healthy eating might include:

• Limited income
• Food deserts or lack of transportation to stores or markets with choices such as fruits or vegetables
• Physical restrictions or limitations that affect an person's ability to prepare or cook food

These factors can severely limit someone’s ability to choose foods that support their health. Plus, if they have certain health conditions, such as renal disease or diabetes, it may be even more difficult to identify and eat the foods and beverages they need most. Food as Medicine programs are being used to help bridge these gaps.

Food as Medicine

If you’ve ever met with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), you may be familiar with medical nutrition therapy (MNT). Dietitians use medical nutrition therapy to create personalized, nutrition-based treatment plans for a variety of conditions, including  diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer and obesity. Typically, a dietitian will help individuals figure out which foods and beverages are the best choices for their health and fit their lifestyle.

Dietitians are one type of health care professional who make Food as Medicine possible. Other health professionals include nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs), doctors, nurses and pharmacists. An RDN can help by determining specific types of foods and nutrients a person needs for complex health conditions. This is then used to put Food as Medicine into action.

Three of the most common Food as Medicine programs provide the appropriate food choices directly to the individual. This includes medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries and produce prescription programs. The combination of access to these foods, alongside nutrition education, makes these programs unique.

Who Qualifies for Food as Medicine Programs?

Food as Medicine is a benefit in many private insurance policies, as well as Medicare Advantage and state Medicaid programs. Individual plans may vary and will specify what type of programing is covered and for which conditions.

Examples of coverage include:

• Medically tailored meals provided immediately after surgery when high-risk individuals return home from the hospital
• Medically tailored groceries after an individual is newly diagnosed with a chronic health condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or diabetes
• Special Supplemental Benefits for Chronically Ill (SSBCI) enrollees may be eligible for services such as produce prescription programs.

Types of Food as Medicine Programs

While medical nutrition therapy and Food as Medicine are not the same, these programs work together to help individuals improve their health. Some common Food as Medicine programs include:

• Medically tailored meals – Fully prepared meals are provided to individuals with at least one serious health condition, such as cancer or chronic heart failure, and who can’t shop or prepare their own food.
• Medically tailored groceries – Both perishable and shelf-stable food items are provided in medically tailored grocery programs. These might include low-potassium foods for a patient on dialysis or high-protein, low-sodium foods for someone with heart failure. Unlike medically tailored meals, the foods in medically tailored grocery programs may require preparation before consuming. Some food pantries and health care facilities offer these programs. Recipes and education on how to prepare foods often is provided.
• Produce prescription programs – In addition to fresh produce, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables may be provided in produce prescription programs. These programs are geared toward individuals with or at risk of chronic health conditions and for whom food access is an obstacle. Grocery stores, health care centers and food pantries may offer produce prescription programs.

Food as Medicine programs can help people improve their health and may lower health care costs. More research is needed to determine which approaches work best and for which health conditions. Still, studies show that both medical nutrition therapy and Food as Medicine services provided by a registered dietitian nutritionist can have real benefits.