A Guide to Food as Medicine

While healthy eating patterns can reduce the risk of many health conditions, access to nutritious foods remains a barrier for many Americans. In 2021, an estimated 34 million households in the United States were classified as food insecure. Although factors contributing to food insecurity vary, they may include income, food deserts, inadequate transportation and high food costs. Food as Medicine initiatives work to remove these barriers.

Food as Medicine, or FAM, is a food-based intervention provided alongside medical nutrition therapy. Sometimes referred to as Food is Medicine, FAM is unique in that it includes the access or delivery of food in conjunction with MNT. Some of the most common FAM programs include medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, produce prescription programs and culinary medicine programs. These programs are often covered by a third party — such as insurance, Medicaid or grants — and are free to the consumer. Criteria to participate in FAM programs vary, with eligibility dependent on the program type. However, individuals with specific health conditions who face obstacles to food access or preparation are the primary demographic served.

How Food as Medicine Programming Works

Food as Medicine programs can be found in a variety of settings, including health care systems, government programs, grocery stores and food pantries. Programs range from multistate operations to localized efforts. For example, culinary medicine interventions might be offered alongside federal programs, such as SNAP and WIC, combining food access with education on food preparation. Or, a hospital system might offer medically tailored groceries and nutrition education to eligible patients.

Eligible patients may be identified in several ways. For example, clinical settings commonly use food security screening tools. These may be as simple as two questions to assess a patient’s ability to access food. However, clinical judgement during patient visits is important to confirm which patients are appropriate for FAM interventions. Once identified, providers may refer individuals to specific programs within the community or assist them in enrollment.

Some programs may not be available within an individual’s community. However, when multiple options are available, matching patients to the program most appropriate for them will have the most benefit.

• Medically Tailored Meals support individuals with complex or severe medical conditions who face physical limitations in preparing healthy meals. Conditions treated might include HIV/AIDS, end stage renal disease (ESRD) or congestive heart failure.
• Medically Tailored Groceries may include items for home delivery or to be picked up at designated sites. These programs support individuals who may face physical restrictions or live in food deserts. They are flexible and can include foods that reflect an individual’s culture. However, those who participate must have some basic resources, such as cooking utensils, and be physically able to cook and prepare their own meals.
• Produce Prescription Programs often serve individuals with limited incomes and who have or are at risk of developing a chronic disease. These prescriptions or vouchers are focused on fruits and vegetables.

Getting Involved in FAM

Regardless of program type or setting, the goal of Food as Medicine is to meet the specific dietary needs of individuals with chronic diseases and nutrition-related risk factors. This makes registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered (NDTRs) a natural fit for implementing FAM programs. RDNs are uniquely positioned to provide MNT and determine specific types of foods and nutrients an individual needs for optimal health.

Personalized medical nutrition therapy and diet recommendations are important to program success. A one-size fits all approach cannot capture the nuances of multiple diet restrictions, cultural food preferences, or ability for food preparation and storage. Studies also suggest that diet quality is improved when RDNs are responsible for developing and approving medically tailored meals and groceries to align with each patient’s diagnosis and comorbidities.

For more information on RDN and NDTR involvement in Food as Medicine, visit the Academy’s resource page on Food as Medicine.

Resources:

• Steiber A, Handu D, Mantinan H, et al. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Food As Medicine Strategic Roadmap. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2025;125(10):1601–1610.
• Seligman HK, Angell SY, Berkowitz SA. A Systematic Review of “Food Is Medicine” Randomized Controlled Trials for Noncommunicable Disease in the United States: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2025; 152(4).
• CDC. Strategies for Fruit and Vegetable Voucher Incentives and Produce Prescriptions. Accessed September, 2025.
• Feeding America. Hunger in America. Accessed September, 2025.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Food is Medicine. Accessed September 2025.
• Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN). 2023. Supporting Food & Nutrition Security through Healthcare: A Resource for Healthcare Systems and their Public Health and Community Partners. San Francisco, CA: University of California, San Francisco.
• Harvard Law School Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation and Food is Medicine Coalition. 2024. Food is Medicine: A State Medicaid Policy Toolkit.
• Children’s Health Watch: Hunger Vital Sign™. What is the Hunger Vital Sign™.