WHY “FOOD AS MEDICINE?” –

• Food insecurity is a leading indicator for diet-related illness.
• “Not only do the prevalence rates of diabetes and food insecurity mirror each other, but diabetes prevalence also rises with increasing severity of food insecurity (10% for mild household food insecurity vs. 16.1% for severe)” (Enza Gucciardi, National Library of Medicine, 2014).
• The movement to end hunger must be rooted in improving access to nutritious food choices that meet dietary needs and prevent and manage diet-related diseases.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THIS PROGRAM? –

Healthcare providers can refer their patients to this program if the patient:

• Has a diet-related illness
• Has indicated that they are food insecure, they qualify for Medicaid, or their income level puts them at risk of food insecurity.

WHAT FEEDING THE VALLEY SEEKS TO PROVIDE TO YOUR PATIENTS AT NO COST TO YOU OR THEM –

• 10 prepared meals per week (lunch and dinner for 5 days per week) for a period of 90 days. Meals are carefully prepared in the Feeding the Valley kitchen to meet the nutritional needs of individuals with diet-related illnesses. Once prepared, each meal is flash-frozen to preserve freshness, making it easy for patients to heat and enjoy whenever they’re ready to eat.
• A 6-week Cooking Matters class to teach healthy cooking skills, and how to grocery shop for healthy food on a budget. Recipe ideas will be given, including guidance for healthy breakfast food options. This class is offered at no charge to you or your patients, facilitated by our partner, The Food Mill. Classes for your patients can be facilitated at your healthcare facility, or offsite at a community location, depending on participation numbers.
• Application assistance from our SNAP Benefits Coordinator, for anyone who wishes to apply for SNAP benefits, to increase their healthy food access. (Schedule an Appointment HERE)

WHAT DATA MUST BE COLLECTED BY THE PHYSICIAN AND BY FEEDING THE VALLEY?

Physician’s office must collect & record # of patients who:

• Screened for food insecurity
• Screened positive for food insecurity
• Screen positive and are referred to the Food as Medicine program

Data collection that is encouraged but not required: de-identified, aggregate clinical health outcomes such as BMI, A1C and blood pressure – collected by healthcare providers.

Feeding the Valley must collect & record the number of patients who:

• Choose to participate, and receive food from the Food as Medicine program
• Referred to, initiate, or complete a SNAP application

Other valuable metrics to collect that are beneficial for maintaining ongoing funding (not required; only if they can be collected ethically) –

• Food recipients can self-report their feelings on food security status, healthcare utilization, and quality of life.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU AS A HEALTHCARE PARTNER TO ADDRESS –

• What is the best location for classes and meal pick-up? Do you have freezer space, if you want to be a pick-up location?
• How many patients do you anticipate being able to refer in each 90-day period?
• Do you have a way to collect the needed data?
• What do we need to consider when serving your patients, to maximize their benefit?

CURRENT HEALTHCARE PARTNERS –

• Columbus: St. Francis Hospital, Piedmont Hospital Mobile Clinic, Oak St Health, MercyMed, Valley Healthcare
• LaGrange: Troup Cares, Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center

TO REFER A PATIENT TO THE FOOD AS MEDICINE PROGRAM OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT –
Lauren Lindauer, Food as Medicine Coordinator, Feeding the Valley Food Bank:
llindauer@feedingthevalley.org.

This Feeding the Valley program is funding through Feeding America’s partnership with the Amerigroup Foundation.