The role of food as sustenance or nutrition for the body is generally understood. However, the role of food in determining chronic health outcomes, both positive and negative, is typically a less familiar concept. Poor diet quality plays a huge role in overweight and obesity, in addition to being linked to cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. In fact, research suggests it’s the number one risk factor for death in America, above smoking and high blood pressure. By thinking of food as medicine, we can begin to tackle obesity and diabetes alongside other diet-related conditions.

In an ideal world, nutrient-dense foods would be affordable and easily accessible to everyone. However, with the reality of food deserts, lack of nutrition education, and inadequate food policy, high-calorie, low-nutrient foods tend to be cheaper and more readily available than fruits and vegetables. This inundation of refined grains, added sugars, and fats in our diet frequently undermines efforts to reduce the incidence and burden of obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. The cheapest shopping plan meeting USDA nutrition guidelines cost $649.90 per month for a family of four, which equates to over 30% of the post-tax income of a family just above the poverty line and ineligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Moreover, even when individuals are on SNAP and receive financial support to purchase food, they are still three times more likely to die from diabetes complications than non-participants.

Fortunately, a number of community programs, regional efforts, and national campaigns are trying to change this. The Food as Medicine Movement is about more than food and clinical outcomes – it touches everything from climate change and sustainability to food injustice, power dynamics, and inequality. Food prescription programs, nutrition education initiatives, and soda tax proponents are fighting for ways to get nutritious, wholesome foods into the hands of millions of American families. Our high-level guide below details some of the amazing programs that are working towards pushing the needle on chronic disease through food.

Please click on a topic below to learn more:

• Food Deserts
• Nutrition Education for Healthcare Providers
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medically-Tailored Meals
• Food Prescription Programs
• Food Policy: Soda Taxes and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes
• Additional Nutritional Initiatives