Food is medicine: A new approach to help seniors take charge of their health
When times are tough and budgets are tight, nutritious food is often the first thing households sacrifice to make ends meet. But when someone can only afford food with low nutritional value, it can impact their health over time – especially for children and older adults. That’s why Ozarks Food Harvest is piloting a Food is Medicine approach to help seniors maintain a balanced diet.
Thanks to a generous grant from Enterprise Mobility in partnership with Feeding America, Ozarks Food Harvest is purchasing Food is Medicine boxes – a collection of foods that meet common health needs of adults over age 65. We deliver them to non-traditional partners like health clinics where seniors already go for their healthcare needs, including Jordan Valley Community Health Centers in Springfield and Ozark Community Hospitals in Neosho and Pineville. Locations were selected to reduce gaps in our service area and remove transportation barriers.
Medically tailored foods include lean proteins such as tuna and beans, reduced-sodium soups and canned vegetables, whole grains, milk and more so seniors can make easy, nutritious meals.
With these free Food is Medicine boxes, local seniors have access to diets that help prevent diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and other chronic conditions. Food is Medicine boxes can also help older adults manage existing conditions through their diet, saving them money in prescription costs.
Food is Medicine boxes for seniors are just one way Ozarks Food Harvest is helping our neighbors access nutritious foods. Nearly two-thirds of the food we distribute is now fresh, perishable product thanks to programs like our Full Circle Gardens program that grows and harvests fresh produce for folks in need, as well as monetary donations that allow The Food Bank to purchase, store and transport fresh food. We’re excited to add Food is Medicine boxes as one more step toward a healthier community.
Thank you to every donor and volunteer who makes these programs possible. Special thanks to Enterprise Mobility and Feeding America for this new opportunity to Transform Hunger into Hope in the Ozarks.