We mean what we say.

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Because we believe to effectively raise the bar on nutrition and health standards, we agree to say what we mean. Integrity is to do what we say, and we believe we need to define what our words and agreements mean. Our coalition leaders decided to support the FiM movement by defining our words and agree upon vocabulary which we will use to describe and define our body of work.

These definitions are our operant terms we all agree to use in our dialogues together, creating a culture of health and inviting others to join us. These terms are subject to change and are organic (responsive to inputs over time). Our definitions are prime to be adjusted, re-scoped, or re-defined as we all agree while we move forward creating a space for success in Food is Medicine ecosystem and all things change for the better in our community. 

Food is Medicine programs are prescribed ‘treatments” by doctors for patients suffering from a chronic diet related disease. FiM programs identify and measure disease effects, biomarkers, or nutritional deficiencies at the beginning and at the end of the six-month program to evaluate the effectiveness/success of the treatment with biomarkers and surveys. Educators, medical professionals, and coaches teach why and how to use the power of the FiM protocol to instill lifestyle and habit changes to control and reverse their disease. Sustained top- quality nutrition over time alters the body from a state of disease to homeostasis with positive health outcomes driving cost-savings on health care utilization for years to come. Using local, farm, or restaurant quality food, groceries, supplements and vitamins during a long term intervention of education and supply events or shipments. FiM Education Class definition and FiM Program operant definitions below in Section VII Definitions. 

Models: Healthy Food Prescriptions MTG, Poverello Eat Well Be Well MTG, MTM, FiM Coalition MTM providers (Gods Love we Deliver, Community Servings) 

HIGH IMPACT

Nutrition Security boxes programs with education classes identify and measure disease effects, biomarkers, or nutritional deficiencies. Level up client’s nutrition to a more optimal positive outcome using local and farm or restaurant-supply chain sourced fresh produce and food with 5-days life span, and dry goods such as pantry essentials during a series of education and supply events or shipments. FiM Education Classes entail research-based curriculum with behavior change outcomes . Nutritional supplements and vitamins may be included in the intervention. 

Model: DASH Diet Protocol Boxes with AHA and UF IFAS 

MID-HIGH IMPACT

Nutrition security "Farmacy" Produce Market programs and pop-ups identify and measure nutritional deficiencies. Level up client’s nutrition to a more optimal positive outcome using local farm or restaurant-supply chain sourced fresh produce and food with at least a 5-day life span and dry goods such as pantry essentials . Food is distributed during a series of food supply events, shipments, Mobile Market, or Pop Up events with a physician or clinic partner who refers patients to the event. Nutritional supplements and vitamins may be included in the intervention.

Model: Geisinger Food Farmacy Model (2017)

MID-HIGH IMPACT

Sustainable federal nutrition programs for students and neighbors living in poverty. School meals provide a boost in nutrition levels with quality nutrient dense foods for students. SNAP provides a boost in quality of nutrition consumed by clients to become FiM  program when used in produce prescriptions, double bucks or fruit and vegetable incentives which can be layered into the bank care/IT purchasing system. 

Model:  Catholic Charities.  FiM CMS guidance for Medicaid Waiver 1115 requires client referral for SNAP, WIC, TANF connection/registration to local Community Based Organizations 

MID IMPACT

 Nutrition security boxes fill a gap in nutrition from what a client needs above the client’s existing SAD. Nutrition Security adds a boost in nutrition when consumed to fill the gap in nutrition. Each box has two keys to getting clients to consume the food in the boxes which drives the levers of the health as a SDOH.  Access is improved by education (recipe cards, food health descriptions & why to eat healthy) using local and farm or restaurant-supply chain sourced food with 5-days life span for produce where possible.

Model: Farmer Boxes from USDA Farms to Families program Add an answer to this item.

MID IMPACT

Food security food or boxes fill the gap in food insecurity when a client runs out of food before they have money to buy food again. Going hungry, foregoing meals so kids can eat or to buy medication are solved with a food security food or box. Groceries such as pantry essentials and standard American diet (SAD) basic items for 3 meals a day for 2 persons or more meets the gap-filling foal as a Social Determinant of Health (SDOH).

Model: TFAP Food Boxes from Farmshare or PBC Food Bank

LOW IMPACT

Post-diagnosis treatment protocol and program proven effective to promote positive changes in health markers (KPI’s) in support of a client’s return to a state of health and homeostasis over time using foods and FiM program elements as the medicine for diet and lifestyle related diseases, symptoms, and

conditions. 

HIGH IMPACT

Prevention means averting disease pathways and to avoid a disease diagnosis for specific high-risk group by using sing foods and FiM program elements. Effective positive changes in health markers and key performance indicators (KPI’s) are the outcomes demonstrateing a client’s return to a state of health and homeostasis.

MID IMPACT

Health-promoting foods, often in regimens, are selected and curated to include optimal nutrients, bio-active and bio-available vitamins, minerals. Health promoting beverages and water are included. All foods mut be established  in the scientific literature to counter disease effects. Foods  may be defined as proteins, healthy fats(including nuts and seeds), gut-biome supporting pre- and pro-biotics, and carbohydrates (vegetables and fruits) in dose quantities, in specific proportion, with food-combining and time-of-day menus. Most regimens include recipes for how to prepare and enjoy the taste aof healthy meals for best results.

MID IMPACT

Disease-promoting food and beverages identified in the scientific literature as causal or correlated to any of the following: early death, stroke, heart attack, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, liver disease and renal failure. The list of items may include:  processed meats, sodium, sugar-sweetened beverages, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated corn oil, Glyphosate, GMO’s, contaminated water, etc. needing education through nutrition labels, infographics, social media campaigns and creative art demonstrations.  

NEGATIVE IMPACT