Download this Op-Ed As a Template

The Challenge

According to ReFED, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing food waste in the United States, a staggering 38 percent of food goes uneaten in our country.  That adds up to 180 billion pounds and $408 billion wasted annually. Simultaneously, over 40 million Americans struggle with food insecurity, unsure of where their next meal will come from. These statistics paint a stark picture of a broken system in dire need of intervention.

Food Recovery As Part of Solution

Enter food recovery—an often-overlooked mechanism with the power to address both food waste and food insecurity simultaneously. Food recovery involves rescuing surplus food that would otherwise be discarded and redistributing it to those in need. It’s a simple concept with profound implications.

At the forefront of this movement is Food Rescue US, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing food insecurity through food rescue. Our organization recognizes that hunger is not a scarcity issue but a distribution problem, and we are tackling it head-on by mobilizing volunteers to rescue surplus food and deliver it to local agencies serving those in need.  In 2023, Food Rescue US rescued 38 Million pounds of food across 20 states and the District of Columbia, the equivalent of more than 31 million meals for those in need.

Accessibility and Scalability

What sets food recovery apart is its accessibility and scalability. Volunteering as a food rescuer requires nothing more than time and compassion. Individuals can sign up to be a part of the solution, rescuing food from grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, or catered events and delivering it to food pantries, soup kitchens, or shelters. The impact of volunteers ripples through communities, providing nourishment and hope to those who need it most.

The benefits of food recovery extend far beyond addressing immediate hunger. When food goes to landfill, it releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, as it degrades.  Diverting food from landfills reduces greenhouse gas emissions and alleviates the strain on our environment. It also has economic advantages, saving businesses money on disposal costs and generating tax deductions for food donations.

Food recovery also fosters a sense of community and solidarity, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, united by a common goal: to ensure no one goes hungry in their community. In a time marked by division and discord, feeding the food insecure transcends barriers and reminds us of our shared humanity.

Underutilized Tool

Despite its immense potential, food recovery as a solution remains underutilized on a national scale. To fully harness food recovery’s power, we must elevate it in our collective consciousness and integrate it into our social and economic systems. This requires collaboration among policymakers, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals (volunteers) to create supportive frameworks and incentives for food recovery initiatives.

We can all play a role in promoting food recovery. Whether we volunteer our time, support food recovery organizations like Food Rescue US, or advocate for policy changes, each of us has the power to make a difference.

The post Food Recovery: A Powerful Solution Combating Food Waste and Food Insecurity appeared first on Food Rescue US.

We are grateful for the commitment and dedication of our food donors, volunteer food rescuers, social service agencies, site directors and their teams, and financial donors. Together, we are making a significant difference.

View our 2022 Impact Report HERE.

The post 2022 IMPACT REPORT appeared first on Food Rescue US.

• During the pandemic, American’s life expectancy went down. While other countries saw a rebound post-pandemic, the U.S. has not.
• Your zip code can predict your life expectancy.
• The director of UT’s Medical schools says “the present state of nutrition education in our medical schools is sad.” Thankfully, medical schools are enhancing and evolving their nutrition education.
• Nutraceuticals can replace some pharmaceuticals.
• Weight loss company Jenny Craig closes nationwide. Here’s hoping people turn to food as medicine and not drugs to lose weight.
• By 2024, all hospitals and clinics in federal payment programs must screen their patients for social determinants of health, including food insecurity.

Food as Medicine the longer version:

Living Better: What it takes to get healthy in America

NPR reports, “The pandemic was a wake-up call in many ways. Americans’ life expectancy went down during the pandemic, taking a historic turn for the worse. And while countries all over the world saw life expectancy rebound during the second year of the pandemic after the arrival of vaccines, the U.S. did not. This is especially true for Native Americans, whose life expectancy dropped to 65.2 in 2021.”

The article goes on to say, “The disparities can be seen within ZIP codes in the same state, as this life expectancy tracker shows. If you take a fairly wealthy ZIP code — 08542, for instance, in Princeton, N.J., — people who live there can expect to live to 90 years old. Meanwhile, not too far away in less affluent Camden, N.J., average life expectancy is much lower — about 74 years, which is a stark reminder that where you live influences how long you live.”

How Nutrition Education for Doctors Is Evolving

A Time magazine article highlighted Dr. Jaclyn Albin, the director of UT Southwestern Medical Center’s culinary medicine program, which offers online modules for students and practicing physicians. The purpose of the program is “to learn about nutrition and understand how to apply that education to patient scenarios. Doctors might learn how patients can use food as a nutrient source instead of or in addition to supplements, and how to accommodate food allergies in cooking. Culinary medicine, in general, has been sparking interest as a popular elective at a number of prominent schools, Albin adds, including her alma mater, George Washington University. “Experiential learning in a teaching kitchen builds not only nutrition knowledge, but also provides a way to discuss food with patients,” Albin says.

“The present state of nutrition education in our medical schools is sad,” she adds. “It’s part of a legacy of a treatment model based on pharmacology and surgery. But the emphasis on prevention and lifestyle is gaining momentum, due to many studies showing the impact of lifestyle modifications on the prevention of chronic disease.” However, Jaber notes, there’s always a lag time between science and its applications.

Nutraceuticals: What are they, Benefits and Examples

“Nutraceuticals are considered food, or obtained from food, that serves to treat and prevent diseases.” Examples include oatmeal, bamboo, ginseng, and garlic.

“The intent is to replace drugs…It has been observed that they may directly affect proteins or genes involved in cellular processes associated with diseases, although each nutraceutical acts to achieve a specific benefit. Thus, there are some diseases it can help fight: neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and arteriosclerosis. Some nutraceuticals have also been shown to be effective for: increase transplant acceptance, reduce swelling, improve reproductive performance, reduce infertility, and regulate the immune system.

Jenny Craig closed nationwide: A local nutritionist’s take

The closure of Jenny Craig coincides with the rising popularity of weight loss drugs. However, Pare advises against immediately turning to drugs. “I teach my clients that food is medicine and just about anything is possible with food,” said Pare. Instead of relying on drugs, she recommends exploring food as the first approach to weight loss. “I would highly encourage people to try food as medicine first,” said Pare.

The Next Big Thing in Healthcare Partnerships

“There’s no doubt that the new ability in some states to tap Medicaid money as reimbursement for nutrition services is attracting attention from the hunger-relief community. But there’s another legislative mandate that is having a more immediate impact on food-bank partnerships with healthcare organizations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has decreed that by 2024, all hospitals and clinics in federal payment programs must screen their patients for social determinants of health, including food insecurity.”

This will require food banks to strike up relationships with local healthcare providers. While not a food bank, but rather a fresh food source for pantries and other social service agencies, Food Rescue US is already forming these important relationships. Food Rescue US sits on collaborative calls throughout Fairfield County with Dept. Of Health, hospitals, medical providers, food security organizations, etc. to ensure these connections are established.  Of course, there is a lot of work ahead but Food Rescue US is providing healthy, fresh food while educating to build long lasting, collaborative success.

Thanks,

Michelle Colman

Food Rescue US – Fairfield County Food as Medicine Liaison

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy last month’s Food as Medicine post.

The post Food as Medicine: Digestible Bites – June 2023 appeared first on Food Rescue US.

• A shocking stat: 80% of healthcare dollars are allocated to preventable chronic disease, yet nine out of 10 Americans don’t meet the government’s own recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption!!! Check out the end of this blog post for tips on how to include more fruit in your daily diet!
• In 2020, one in six military and veteran families reported experiencing low food security or hunger.
• The American Heart Association and The Rockefeller Foundation’s vision for their Food is Medicine (FIM) Initiative “is to accelerate a future in which millions of patients receive the benefit of a more holistic approach to diet and health.”
• 27% of disabled people live in poverty (which is 2x the rate in the general population!). Disabled people are struggling to access the food they need to stay healthy with the dramatic increase in food prices and the end of pandemic-era SNAP benefits.

The longer version:

‘Food as medicine’ gains more traction

“Eighty percent of healthcare dollars in this country are allocated to preventable chronic disease, yet nine out of 10 Americans don’t meet the government’s own recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption,” said Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association, during a recent Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit. “There is a clear and significant role for food interventions in the healthcare system. “You go to the doctor, you get a diagnosis, and they give you a prescription for fruits and vegetables to treat your condition. Imagine a world where your diagnosis is being treated by what’s on your plate, not by what’s in a pill,” Burns added. “This could be transformational for the trajectory of human health in this country.”

•  The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise incorporating more fruits and vegetables into U.S. residents’ diets as part of healthy dietary patterns. Adults should consume 1.5–2 cup-equivalents of fruits and 2–3 cup-equivalents of vegetables daily (source).

Healthy foods pilot program to launch in Houston targeting veterans in need

“One in six military and veteran families reported experiencing low food security or hunger in 2020. Devon Klatell is the Vice President of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Food Initiative and said in a statement that low food security and hunger can lead to increases to the risk of diet-related diseases. Fresh Connect will expand on an already existing Food is Medicine program, a Rockefeller Foundation program which attempts to integrate food and nutrition into health care….Doctor Quindola Crowley, the Chief of Social Work at Houston’s Department of Veterans Affairs, said having Houston as part of the expansion makes sense because of its large veteran population. “We definitely know that we’re one of the largest VA facilities in the country. There’s about 300,000 veterans in the Houston area,” she said.”

Medically tailored meals have proven to be effective. Now health insurers are paying attention.

“Medically tailored meals have proven to be effective. Now health insurers are paying attention.

State Rep. Donna Bullock (D., Philadelphia) has called for the state to allow hospitals to provide eligible medical assistance beneficiaries with prescribed meals.”

Food is Medicine Initiative

A collaboration of the American Heart Association and The Rockefeller Foundation

The vision for the Food is Medicine (FIM) Initiative is to accelerate a future in which millions of patients receive the benefit of a more holistic approach to diet and health, health care professionals know how to target and use FIM approaches to help prevent and manage disease, and payors have sufficient, objective cost and effectiveness evidence for reimbursing FIM programs.

How Food Inflation Adds to the Burdens Disabled People Carry

“While many Americans have struggled with rising food prices this year, the pressures are even more intense for disabled people who have to balance additional constraints—and whose needs are sometimes more expensive, and more complex, than those of the general population.

Complicating matters for disabled people are ever-present systemic realities. Almost 27 percent of disabled people live in poverty, nearly twice the rate of the general population, and that high poverty rate drives a high rate of food insecurity. Even in the best of times, disabled people are struggling to feed themselves.”

Tips on how to include more fruit in your diet!

• Fruit on hand: I make sure to keep washed berries in the fridge so I can grab a quick handful when I need a snack.
• Fruit additions: Add fruits to your cereal and pancakes. My kids love bananas and berries cooked into their pancakes and raisins or dried apricots on their cereal.
• Try dry: Eat more dried fruits. It’s an easy, on the go option! I highly recommend the dried mangoes from Food Rescue US – Fairfield County food donor Trader Joe’s. What a treat!
• Fruit ice: Freeze your fruits and add them to your water.
• Vacay in a bowl: Have fruit salad ready to go in the fridge. It’s totally decadent and makes you feel like you’re on a perma-vacation.
• Renew your fruit: if your fruit looks like it’s about to be too ripe, throw it in a smoothie and enjoy the added fructose and those super ripe flavors! 
• SEND ME YOUR TIPS ON HOW YOU GET MORE FRUIT IN YOUR DAILY DIET!

Thanks,

Michelle Colman

Food Rescue US – Fairfield County Food as Medicine Liaison

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like last month’s Food As Medicine post.

The post FOOD AS MEDICINE: DIGESTIBLE BITES – MAY 2023 appeared first on Food Rescue US.

The shorter version:

• Biden calls in the heavyweights to reduce hunger in America
• With the pandemic-era nutrition policy expiring, 30 million people are about to receive less aid
• Food as Medicine rural models show that produce prescriptions can work
• New! Local Bites: Northwest Connecticut FoodHub works with farmers all over northwest Connecticut.

The longer version:

Click to read the full article: Biden turns to Steph Curry, DoorDash and others to advance nutrition and hunger goals

The White House is turning to companies like DoorDash and Instacart and athletic celebrities like basketball’s Steph Curry in its effort to try to reduce hunger in America. New private sector pledges announced Friday included a promise from DoorDash to make more produce and healthy products available in its food delivery service by 2025 and to offer access to food stamp grocery delivery in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Instacart, a grocery delivery service, said it wants to promote fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables on its platform and work with health care providers to create “virtual food pharmacies” to advance the idea of using food as medicine.

Click to read the full article: ‘Catastrophe’ for Poor New Yorkers as Pandemic Food Aid Ends

The pandemic hit everyone hard but it disproportionately hurt lower income communities making their struggles even more difficult. Thankfully, at the time, Congress enacted emergency legislation to increase the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program giving all participants the maximum monthly benefits, regardless of income. But, that federal assistance is ending this month as the pandemic-era policy expires. The effects are devastating as more than 30 million people across the country are expected to receive less assistance.

“In New York City, more than 1.5 million people, or nearly one in five residents, could receive smaller food stamp benefits, according to nonprofit leaders — reflecting a loss of at least $160 million total in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits each month….As Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council negotiate next year’s budget, Mr. Greenfield has called on the city to set aside nearly $13 million in emergency funding for food pantries, where demand for aid has surged: Visits to food pantries in the city rose by more than two-thirds last year compared with 2019.”

In Connecticut, the average recipient will see about $95 less a month in groceries. Connecticut food pantries are preparing to see an increase in the number of food insecure clients they serve.

Click to read the full article: Fresh produce is an increasingly popular prescription for chronically ill patients

The produce prescription approach may be a model for other rural states to promote healthy eating in food deserts. The article focuses on the Food Access and Sustainability Team (FAST) Blackfeet produce prescription program. It explains, “If a patient doesn’t have easy access to fruit and vegetables, she’ll enroll the person in the FAST Blackfeet produce prescription program. FAST provides vouchers to people who are ill or have insecure food access to reduce their cost for healthy foods. Since 2021, Sachs has recommended a fruit-and-vegetable treatment plan to 84 patients. Increased consumption of vitamins, fiber, and minerals has improved those patients’ health,” she said.

New! LOCAL BITES – Find out about food as medicine work happening here in Connecticut.

The purpose of Digestible Bites is to stay on top of all the “Food as Medicine” news as a way to keep us up-to-date. But, I also want to profile amazing local efforts that provide healthy, fresh, nutritionally dense food to people in need. The more we see local Food as Medicine efforts in action, the more options we have to help. And, boy oh boy, do I have an amazing organization to tell you about…

Northwest Connecticut FoodHub works with farmers all over northwest Connecticut picking up their fresh, locally grown produce, and delivering it to food pantries (as donations) and wholesale customers, such as schools, grocery stores, and restaurants. Renee Giroux, FoodHub’s General Manager, is a devoted and brilliant leader of the nonprofit. She started her efforts in 2017 with only three farms and has now grown FoodHub to include 30 farms, most of which are first generation-owned. 

With the help from the Department of Agriculture, FoodHub’s farms receive grants to grow and provide fresh produce to local pantries via FoodHub. This is a win-win for the farmers and those in need of their fresh produce.

FoodHub also works with ProduceRx and NourishRx to provide curated boxes for people with specific medical needs. ProduceRx works out of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington and focuses on getting nutritionally dense fresh food to patients with underlying health conditions, specifically Type 2 diabetes and geared toward children suffering with severe obesity. NourishRx is a new program based in New Haven that specifically caters curated boxes to patients with kidney disease. FoodHub is the conduit for both Rx programs, helping the farmers get their food to those who need it the most.

Thanks,

Michelle Colman

Food Rescue US – Fairfield County Food as Medicine Liaison

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like last month’s Food As Medicine post.

The post Food as Medicine: Digestible Bites – April 2023 appeared first on Food Rescue US.

The shorter version:

• Good news: An exciting new program involves a debit card that pays for up to $100 a month of fresh produce. Keep reading below to learn more!
• Some states are rolling out programs where a portion of their Medicaid funds will pay for food programs, including medically tailored meals, groceries and produce prescriptions.
• Bad news: Of the 41 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits, at the end of the month, it is estimated that 16 million Americans will receive about $90 less a month.
• Interesting fact: This article highlighted the most amazing fact, which I have yet to get to the bottom of (but will!)… The original Hippocratic Oath contained the following passage: “I will use those dietary regimens which will benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgment, and I will do no harm or injustice to them.” Very oddly, that part has been removed and there is no mention of diet in the modern oath. If anyone has any insight into this, please let me know! 

The longer version:

The Fresh Connect debit card lets doctors prescribe free fruits and vegetables

The Fresh Connect program is designed to help prevent and treat disease, particularly for people who may not be able to afford healthy food. This article cites a Tufts University study that found that healthy food prescriptions could be as cost effective as preventative drug treatments for conditions like hypertension or high cholesterol.

In Boston, the Fresh Connect debit card (created by the Boston-based nonprofit About Fresh) works at stores like Stop & Shop. Shoppers bring a full cart of groceries to check out, swipe the Fresh Connect card, and it automatically covers the cost of produce before they pay the rest of the bill. The amount available varies by provider but is typically around $100 a month. 

As SNAP benefits wane, food-as-medicine companies carve out a niche in healthcare

Presenting some shocking statistics that put the US food crisis in a very depressing perspective, the article explains, “The end of COVID-era food and nutrition benefits is bringing an ebb to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 32 states as of March 1. With a quickly approaching cliff and 18 states already having lost emergency benefits, digital food-as-medicine programs are bringing resources to the table.” 

According to the article, regarding SNAP, formally known as food stamps, “41 million Americans receive the benefit that expanded at the beginning of the pandemic. At the end of the month, it is estimated that 16 million Americans will receive about $90 less a month. Some beneficiaries with the greatest need will lose up to $258 monthly, and further cuts are being proposed by Republican lawmakers who want more stringent eligibility requirements for the federal program.”

Can food cure high medical bills? Pilot ‘food as medicine’ programs aim to prove just that.

Arkansas, Oregon, and Massachusetts received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last year to use a portion of their Medicaid funds to pay for food programs, including medically tailored meals, groceries and produce prescriptions (fruit and vegetable prescriptions or vouchers provided by medical professionals for people with diet-related diseases or food insecurity). The aim is to see whether providing people with nutritious foods can effectively prevent, manage, and treat diet-related diseases.  Let’s hope all the other states follow suit.

Thanks,

Michelle Colman

Food Rescue US – Fairfield County Food as Medicine Liaison

The post Food as Medicine: Digestible Bites – March 2023 appeared first on Food Rescue US.

The shorter version:

• Post-pandemic consumers focus on affordability and convenience over immune support
• Breaking down myths that Black food is not nutritious and reviving Black food as medicine
• FDA aims to tighten regulations for  “healthy” and “organic” food labels
• Finding that food is more powerful than drugs to cure high cholesterol and heart diseases

The longer version:

Affordability Will Top Immunity As Leading Food Purchase Driver in 2023

After hunkering down during the pandemic while trying to stay healthy and boost our immunity, consumers are now more focused on convenience and affordability. A 2023 study of 757 registered dietitian nutritionists on “What’s Trending in Nutrition” revealed:

• For consumers, value and affordability beat immune support and comfort
• There is a rise in misleading marketing and nutrition misinformation due to social media
• Consumers will seek out these top ten superfoods:
• Fermented Foods (such as yogurt, kimchi, kombucha tea and pickled vegetables), seeds (such as chia and hemp), blueberries, avocados, nuts (including pistachios, almonds and walnuts), leafy greens (such as spinach), aquatic greens (such as algae, seaweed and sea moss), green tea, ancient grains, and non-dairy milks.

African Heritage Diet as Medicine: How Black Food Can Heal the Community

The author and founder of NATIVSOL Kitchen breaks down the misconception that traditional Black food is not nutritious. The article advocates for Black food as medicine showing how history and food are a source of empowerment to change the narrative regarding nutrition and health across the African diaspora.

The articles cites a 2020 study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences about “African Americans who swapped diets for two weeks with rural Africans, ate a low-fat (20% of energy), high-fiber diet and experienced positive changes in their metabolism and gut microbiome and had a lowered risk for colon cancer. In contrast, Africans eating a Standard American diet, low in fiber and high in fat, experienced increased colon cancer polyps and inflammation.”

FDA Aims to ‘Improve Diet, Reduce Chronic Disease’ by Updating Healthy Claims on Food Labels

For the first time since 1994, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating the use of the term healthy on food labels. These changes attempt to align the agency’s definition of healthy with the latest nutrition science and federal dietary guidelines.

If companies want to use the healthy claim, the product must abide by specific thresholds set by the FDA of total and saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and contain nutrients like Vitamin A, calcium, or iron. The new rules will regulate “healthy claims primarily according to food groups, as opposed to individual nutrients. Food products will need to contain a specific amount of food from at least one of six categories: fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, proteins, and oils. The FDA also plans to continue limiting nutrients including sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars, with baseline amounts varying by food group. Additionally, the agency would remove minimum micronutrient requirements, preventing the labeling of unhealthy foods as healthy simply for containing a large amount of a single nutrient like calcium.”

New USDA rule boosts “organic” food oversight, targets fraud

The USDA strengthens the enforcement of the definitions of organic, which must rely on “natural substances and physical, mechanical or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.” The rule requires USDA’s National Organic Program certification for all imported organic food, increases certifications of more businesses in the supply chain and boosts authority for inspections, record-keeping, traceability and fraud prevention practices.

Food vs Pharmaceuticals: New Study Highlights Power of Nutrition Over Pills for Improving Heart Health

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a practicing cardiologist, says that in her 14 years of medicine-related training, not even an hour was spent on nutrition. Sadly, this is not new news to us. But now,  Klodas is aiming to change the paradigm in the US from treating high cholesterol and heart disease with drugs to the ancient wisdom of using food as medicine. “Physicians aren’t just there to provide drugs; they’re meant to help folks,” she says.

Thanks,

Michelle Colman

Food Rescue US – Fairfield County Food as Medicine Liaison

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like last month’s Food As Medicine post. 

The post Food as Medicine: Digestible Bites – February 2023 appeared first on Food Rescue US.

General summary: 

The time has come to change our thinking about food and understand it can be our medicine. We are what we eat. The problem is that many people do not have the access, money, or education to make good choices. But, as the movement gains momentum, so too does the amount of funding available, the education offered, and the resources made more accessible.

Detailed summary:

Nutritious food is a big factor in solving the world’s greatest health problems.

The World Economic Forum published the article “Why nutritious food could be the answer to some of the world’s greatest health problems.” The main points are:

• It’s time to change the way we think about health and we need to start with food.
• Malnutrition is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide.
• We must be bold and push the boundaries of the role nutritious food can play in health and we must embrace the power of technology to help scale these solutions globally.

The most shocking fact:

• Poor diets are responsible for around 11 million deaths annually. That’s more than tobacco, high blood pressure or any other health risk. We’re in the midst of a global epidemic of diet-related chronic diseases.

We lecture people on eating healthy but most don’t have access to fresh food.

The food guru, Mark Bittman, published an excellent essay in the London’s Guardian newspaper rightly highlighting the fact that, “For decades public health authorities have encouraged us to choose healthier foods – yet most choices available to Americans are bad ones…60% of the calories in the food supply are in the form of ultra-processed foods (UPFs, or junk food), which are the primary cause of diet-related diseases. That means almost no one can make a “good” choice every time, and many of us can barely make good choices ever.”

More processed food is cheaper than less processed food.

Similarly, recent research from Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute indicates a slightly higher number than Bittman reported, stating that 73% of the U.S. food supply is ultra-processed. The study also found that 52% of ultra-processed food is less expensive than non-processed foods. So, the majority of food on offer is ultra-processed and less expensive than whole foods.

New York City will educate physicians on nutrition.

New York Mayor Eric Adams revealed that “A plant-based diet restored my eyesight, put my Type 2 diabetes into remission, and helped save my life.” The Mayor and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine announced a new partnership — as a result of a massive $44 million investment by ACLM — to provide every New York City health care practitioner with free introductory training in nutrition and lifestyle medicine, enabling practitioners to integrate evidence-based content into their clinical practice to treat certain health conditions. 

Amazing fact revealed:

• Only about 14% of physicians reported that they had the foundational training to counsel their patients on nutrition, one of the most significant components of lifestyle medicine. This is a structural issue, as only approximately 27% of medical schools in the United States offer the requisite 25 hours of nutrition education in their programs. 

The program will offer three courses in the online training package included a one-hour “Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine” course, a three-hour “Food as Medicine: Nutrition for Prevention and Longevity” course, and a 1.5-hour “Food as Medicine: Nutrition for Treatment and Risk Reduction” course. 

New virtual center promotes collaboration and sharing of nutrition information.

On December 5, 2022, USDA announced the opening of the Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet (ASCEND) for Better Health, a virtual center that brings together scientists, partner organizations, and communities to deliver science-based solutions that promote and elevate food and nutrition security for all Americans.

Rockefeller Foundation invests $4.6 million in food as medicine.

The Rockefeller Foundation has committed $4.6 million in grants for equitable and community-directed approaches to prevent, manage, and treat diet-related illnesses in the United States. The funding will support grantees advancing Food is Medicine interventions focused on building partnerships with key stakeholders and bridging the gaps between food and health care. The goal of this investment is to help the millions of patients facing food insecurity or diet-related diseases gain more equitable access to foods that promote better health outcomes and reduce health costs.

• 34M Americans face food insecurity, disproportionately affecting BIPOC and low-income neighborhoods.
• $604B in healthcare costs are directly attributable to diet-related diseases.

Doctors normally prescribe medicine and now some are prescribing meals. NPR produced a great introductory story about food as medicine. It’s a quick and informative four-minute listen.

Thanks,

Michelle Colman

Food Rescue US – Fairfield County Food as Medicine Liaison

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy this article

The post Food as Medicine: Digestible Bites – January 2023 appeared first on Food Rescue US.

After horrifying rates of nutritional insecurity increased during COVID, the need to provide nutritionally dense and affordable food as medicine became glaringly obvious. 

In September, the White House hosted the second Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (50 years after the first conference). In October, the Connecticut Food as Medicine Workgroup held its second meeting to discuss how to harness the momentum from the conference and implement helpful bills in our state.

The food as medicine momentum is finally evolving into actionable responses. 

Two things every research report on “food as medicine” agree on is that whole (unprocessed) foods heal and fortify our bodies in numerous ways and our bodies are always trying to repair themselves. The wonderful overall message is: it is never too late to get stronger and healthier. 

So, each month, we are going to highlight and summarize some of the most exciting articles and research reported on food as medicine in the hope that we can all become stronger and healthier in our fight to end hunger.

Article to note this month:

“Food Trends That Are About To Take Over 2023” (Mashed, November 10, 2022)

Beyond the thrilling trend that the three pillars of sustainability – environmental, social, and economic issues – are on the rise, this Mashed report shares some other cool tidbits of knowledge with us: 

• Beyond describing chickpeas as a nutritional “powerhouse,” it turns out that these “unassuming legumes” are a crop that nourishes the soil as they grow. Chickpeas give back in so many ways.
• Potato milk is on the rise (not yet in the US) because they grow almost anywhere, they are considered a “space smart” crop (when compared to other crops like oats or rice), and it only takes 34 gallons of water to produce a pound of potatoes versus 451 gallons to produce one pound of soy milk or 1,929 gallons of water or one pound of shelled almonds. 
• Mushrooms have almost no carbon footprint and are being used in everything from textiles to food to packaging and even water capturing.

Thanks,

Michelle Colman

Food Rescue US – Fairfield County Food as Medicine Liaison

The post Food as Medicine: 2,400 Years in the Making appeared first on Food Rescue US.

View our 2021 Impact Report HERE.

The post 2021 IMPACT REPORT appeared first on Food Rescue US.