Food as Medicine programs benefit greatly from purchasing local food, which tends to be more nutrient dense and creates stronger and more sustainable food systems within the communities they serve. Food as Medicine programs can also be a nice addition to the portfolio of a local farm or food hub, as they bring in new resources and customers.
On the heels of our successful webinar, “Farms and Food Hubs: How to Build a Food as Medicine Program,” we are sharing a list of resources for organizations interested in entering or deepening their involvement in this growing field. Do you have additional resources we should add to our list? Please send them!
Resources for Running a Food as Medicine Program
“Food as Medicine Programs: A Growing Opporunity for Farms and Food Hubs” is your go-to resource for how farms and food hubs can develop or get more involved in Food as Medicine programs. This comprehensive look at Food as Medicine programs covers a range of topics, from establishing the right partnerships and securing funding, to managing distribution and ensuring long-term sustainability. It also identifies key roles and shares insights from experts on how to engage communities, measure health outcomes, and design culturally appropriate food offerings.
Erin Martin, Founder and CEO of FreshRx Oklahoma, has a helpful guide to starting a Food as Medicine program.
The American College of Lifestyle Medicine provides continuing education and certifications for medical professional and others dedicated to the root-cause treatment of chronic disease.
Food Tank conducts webinars and publishes articles on a variety of topics, one of which is Food as Medicine. Watch for new sessions but also check the organization’s YouTube page for some helpful recorded webinars.
The National Produce Prescription Collaborative is a membership organization, founded by Wholesome Wave, that’s focused primarily on advocacy.
The Food is Medicine Coalition is a membership organization provides resources and networking opportunities.
Harvard Law School’s Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation offers pro bono technical assistance to organizations interested in implementing and scaling Food as Medicine programs. They also have links to many great resources.
The FED Collective is committed to ensuring that underrepresented groups continue to play a role in Food as Medicine programs.
The Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity maintains a master list of research articles and guides relevant to Food as Medicine programs.
Resources for Funding Food as Medicine Programs
Ardmore Institute of Health provides grants to organizations focused on lifestyle medicine, including Food as Medicine programs.
Nutrition Incentive Hub is another resource for funding and information about Food as Medicine programs.
The Rockefeller Foundation has declared Food as Medicine one of its focus initiatives.
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) is USDA’s initiative to support produce prescriptions. Learn more about its competitive grant programs on its website.
Research About Food as Medicine Programs
This report from U.S. Centers for Disease Control provides valuable data on health trends in the United States.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a report that provides an in-depth overview of Food as Medicine programs.
The Food is Medicine Coalition also engages in research and policy.
Tufts University has put together a resource website with links to research studies for Food as Medicine practitioners.
Check out Nutrition Incentive Hub informational resources for Food as Medicine as well.
What Else Can We Do to Help Your Food as Medicine Program?
Are you looking for software to power your Food as Medicine program? Look no further than Local Food Marketplace. Our online marketplaces offer a user-friendly place for customers to shop and filter items to find the ones that fit their needs. You can tag products with various attributes and easily accept coupon codes.
In the backend, Local Food Marketplace has a wealth of tools for inventory management, automated communication, delivery and route management, reporting, and so much more. Contact us for a free one-on-one demo today to learn how we can support your Food as Medicine program.
