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Food As Medicine

Food as Medicine is a philosophy where food and nutrition aids individuals through interventions that support health and wellness. Focus areas include:

  • Food as preventative medicine to encourage health and well-being;
  • Food as medicine in disease management and treatment;
  • Food as medicine to improve nutrition security; and
  • Food as medicine to promote food safety.

Food as medicine is a reaffirmation that food and nutrition play a role in sustaining health, preventing disease, and as a therapy for those with conditions or in situations responsive to change in their diet (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2021).

An abundance of barriers, including food and nutrition insecurity, how food is marketed and advertised, and access to and affordability of healthy foods, and behavioral challenges such as a focus on immediate versus delayed gratification, stand in the way of healthier dietary patterns for many Americans (Food Is Medicine: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association, 2023).

If you would like to learn more about Food As Medicine, please visit the following websites:

Choosing the Nutrition Plan that’s Right for You

A “healthy diet” can vary from person to person, especially those with specific medical conditions and/or considerations. In addition to consulting with your medical provider, visiting the following websites may help you determine the eating pattern that is right for you:

Food Insecurity

Poverty, food insecurity, and poor nutrition have serious consequences for the health and well-being of children, adults, and older adults, including a greater risk for chronic disease and poor mental health (FRAC, 2017). If you or someone you know is struggling with food insecurity, please visit our Food Access webpage to find assistance.





Page last updated: January 30, 2025