Thousands of people nationwide now have better access to nutritious foods that support their health conditions, including some in northern Nevada.
It's all through the Food as Medicine program organized by Feeding America. It’s done in partnership with the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation and local food banks, including the Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN).
"This is a national report and a really great national effort to prove that nutritious food really is important to health outcomes,” said Jocelyn Lantrip, the Director of Marketing for FBNN.
This is Feeding America’s third Food as Medicine initiative since 2019, and the largest of its kind.
Here's how it works - providers at health care partners screen people for food insecurity and health conditions like diabetes or hypertension. They're then prescribed a list of nutritious foods tailored to their condition. Once a week, they can pick up those foods from an eligible food pantry, like FBNN.
“It is so important for families to have access to nutritious food,” Lantrip says. “And unfortunately, with prices where they are right now, with the cost of fuel, families are struggling to get that nutritious food on the table. That's why we're here."
The latest study, Food as Medicine 3.0, ran from April 2023 to December 2025, and expanded its reach and evaluation framework compared to 2.0.
In northern Nevada, patients received food over 40,884 times through FAM3.0. 85% of the over 100 participants received food more than once. Participants reported a 13% drop in visits to the emergency room compared to baseline.
“That means they're getting that prescription, they're going to get their nutritious food, they're coming back, they're eating more fruits and vegetables, and it's helping their health,” Lantrip said.
The impacts go beyond just the numbers.
“We also had anecdotal evidence from our participants that say, ‘This program is helping me. It's helping my health,” said Lantrip.
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada started its program in 2017 and expanded to rural Nevada in 2021. 14 health care providers and 14 pantries are now taking part.
The full FAM3.0 report is available here. For numbers specific to northern Nevada, click the map on page 3.
To support FBNN’s continued efforts by donating or volunteering, visit its website.
