Food is Medicine Initiative

Food is Medicine (FIM) is a movement that recognizes the potential of food to help prevent and manage chronic diseases. The vision for the national Food is Medicine Research Initiative is to accelerate a future in which millions of patients receive the benefits of a more holistic approach to diet and health.

Through this initiative, multi-year clinical studies will lead to a better understanding of health outcomes and cost-effectiveness when treating patients with prescriptions for produce and meals that are specific to their condition. This may include low-sodium nutritious meals for patients with hypertension, carb and sugar-balanced nutritious meals for patients with Type 2 diabetes, and high-fiber, low-fat, and low-sugar meals for patients with cardiovascular disease. These studies will be conducted in close collaboration with national experts in behavioral economics and practitioners of FIM across the country.

By using food as medicine, patients can be empowered to take control of their health, and health care professionals can offer an integrated approach to care. We seek to bridge the gap between nutrition and health care, promoting the use of evidence-based dietary interventions for the prevention and treatment of chronic conditions.