How to Ensure that Food Truly Becomes a Form of Medicine for All
The concept of ‘food as medicine’ or as I like to call it ‘food-is-medicine, is gaining traction as a transformative approach to healthcare, with the potential to not only prevent disease severity but also to significantly reduce healthcare costs.
Yet, this promising solution faces a critical hurdle: the affordability and accessibility of healthy food options. As we delve into this topic, we must consider innovative solutions that could democratize nutritious choices, ensuring that the power of food as a healing agent is within reach for everyone.
How can we bridge the gap between the farm and the pharmacy to make food the universal medicine it has the potential to be?
Let's explore the possibilities and the steps we can take to make health through nutrition a cornerstone of our society.
Food Is Medicine
This rebranding of culinary medicine to food-is-medicine is very interesting and it is a field that I follow closely. It is part of the Biden-Harris National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, which I applaud.
The response however has been predictable with a focus on delivering medical meals to patients. That seems to be their number one strategy at this time, and it is one that I completely disagree with.
I don’t believe this will solve the problem of ending hunger or nourishing everyone. I don’t see this approach as saving money, but I do see it lining the pockets of companies that create medically tailored meals. In addition, this approach is neither equitable nor inclusive as it focuses on the insured. It also does not empower individuals to take control of their health; it actually promotes a dependency on the healthcare system.
I firmly believe that the foundation of the food is medicine movement must be on
1. Increasing access to affordable healthy food, and
2. Teaching people how to prepare the food so it pleases their palates and empowers them to take care of themselves and their family members.
The Biden-Harris Initiative
I say focus less on the “medicine” part and more on the “food” part.
The Biden-Harris initiative did bring disparate groups together so we are all rowing in the same direction and that is essential as it will take a system-wide change to feed all equitably.
Eating a healthy diet will indeed reduce healthcare costs, that has been demonstrated again and again. Instead of asking insurers to pay for medically tailored meals, perhaps they can pay for access to produce, healthy food, and cooking classes.
What is Next for Food Is Medicine?
The path forward, then, must be one of empowerment and education, not merely provision.
If we are to truly harness the potential of food as a preventive measure against disease and a cornerstone of public health, we must invest in community-based solutions that make healthy food accessible and affordable for all, regardless of insurance status.
This includes supporting local agriculture, creating food education programs, and incentivizing retailers to offer healthier options. By shifting the focus from short-term interventions to long-term lifestyle changes, we can cultivate a culture of health that encourages individuals to make informed food choices.
It's about equipping people with the knowledge and resources they need to nourish their bodies and their families, thereby reducing the long-term reliance on the healthcare system.
The Biden-Harris strategy has set the sails in the right direction, but now we must all row together with sustained effort and a shared vision to realize a future where food is the foundation of health for everyone.
The Food Coach Academy
The Food Coach Academy is rooted in the conviction that culinary skills hold the transformative power to revolutionize individual well-being, community health, and environmental sustainability in an equitable, inclusive, and diverse manner. The Food Coach Academy is partnered with Rouxbe: The #1 Online cooking school in the world!
What’s unique about the Academy is our modular learning approach. We deliver it in small bite-sized, easily digestible pieces that can be done at the learners' own pace.
Taste & Flavor, one of the thirteen courses that make up the Food Coach Academy, launched in October and gives students a window into the amazing world of food coaching!
Better yet, it really is the best if cooking and tasting accompany the learning. It is also how you are going to coach individuals…one step at a time with your client leading the way.
The only way to change the world through healthy delicious food is to do it together.
With a spoon and a smile.
Dr Deb
Curious to learn more? Read the full interview in Authority Magazine.
