Nutritious food can be more than a meal; it can be part of a treatment plan.
That is the idea behind a program in Northern Nevada that connects health care providers with food pantries, helping people facing hunger access the foods they need to manage chronic illness better.
During National Nutrition Month in March, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada is highlighting its Prescription Pantry, Food as Medicine program, in partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation and Feeding America. The effort focuses on how access to nutritious food can influence health for people who struggle to afford groceries.
Launched in 2017, the program connects health care providers with neighborhood food pantries so people experiencing food insecurity can receive prescriptions for nutritious foods that support their health needs. The effort is designed to help families who often face difficult choices between paying for food and paying for medical care.
“We know that access to fresh, nutritious food is not available to many people who live right here in our region,” said Frankie Ortiz, health equity manager at the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. “This program helps us highlight the importance of these nutritious foods in everyone’s diet and bring together the partners that make access possible.”
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada now works with 14 health care providers that screen people for food insecurity. Those providers can issue prescriptions that can be filled at 14 neighborhood pantries stocked with foods that support patients dealing with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
The initiative is part of Feeding America’s Food as Medicine effort and receives funding support from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation.
“Food is a powerful driver of health,” said Joy Thomas, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada Medicaid Health Plan. “Through our partnership with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and Feeding America, we are helping bridge funding and service gaps so more neighbors can access nutritious food and improve health outcomes across Nevada.”
Programs across the Feeding America network are showing early signs that connecting consistent access to nutritious food with health care support can improve outcomes for families.
By linking clinics, food pantries, and community partners, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada says the program aims to strengthen long term health and stability for households across the region.
More information about the Food Bank of Northern Nevada is available at fbnn.org.
