The second annual Food is Medicine Summit, hosted by the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, recently took place. This gathering provided a platform for leaders to exchange insights, successes, and hurdles in leveraging food to enhance health and combat chronic diseases, which pose significant economic burdens. Among the discussions, a panel titled “Research Advances in Food Retailing” featured Stefany Shaheen, Co-Founder and President of Good Measures, along with representatives from Kroger, Instacart, Season Health, and Walmart. Together, they delved into innovative approaches in food retailing aimed at improving the accessibility of food prescription programs and other initiatives, ensuring personalized and culturally relevant offerings.
These advancements capitalize on technology and strategic collaborations to enable individuals to access fresh, nutritious food tailored to their unique health requirements and cultural backgrounds. Whether it’s through personalized medically-tailored meals or convenient grocery delivery services, the evolving landscape of food retailing is reshaping how people make dietary decisions and how individuals with nutrition-sensitive conditions utilize clinically-tailored and culturally appropriate food prescriptions to manage their health effectively.
Stefany Shaheen highlighted the success of Good Measures’ Good Food Prescription™ program within a recent health plan partnership, boasting an impressive 87% engagement rate. Analyses also revealed significant improvements in key health indicators, with participants in the Healthy Weight program achieving an average weight loss of 8% or 18 pounds. Moreover, these programs contribute to enhancing member health outcomes related to A1C levels, blood pressure, primary care physician visits, medication adherence, and overall health costs. The integration of food retailing advancements, grocery delivery services, medically-tailored meals, and pickup options facilitates reaching individuals at home, irrespective of their location, thus providing substantial benefits and promoting sustained engagement.
Timely grocery deliveries by organizations like Instacart, Kroger, and Walmart are pivotal in ensuring access to nutritious food, particularly for those in need. By eliminating obstacles such as transportation and time constraints, these services empower individuals to adhere to prescribed dietary regimens more effectively, thereby aiding in the management of health conditions, enhancing overall well-being, and improving quality of life.
Sarah Mastrorocco, VP & GM of Instacart Health, emphasized the company’s commitment to collaborating with healthcare leaders to facilitate access to fresh, culturally-relevant groceries for individuals across the nation, including those in food deserts. Through partnerships, Instacart aims to develop personalized food prescription programs tailored to individual health needs.
Medically-tailored groceries and food prescriptions, guided by clinical guidelines, are bridging crucial gaps in healthy food access, with the potential to enhance health outcomes and promote health equity. Dariush Mozaffarian, Director of the Food is Medicine Institute, underscores the significance of integrating nutrition science into healthcare delivery, envisioning a future where advancements in food as medicine create a healthier and more equitable society.
The transformative impact of food retailing is propelling population health forward and underscores the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of healthcare. By prioritizing accessibility, cultural relevance, and nutrition intervention, these initiatives not only improve health outcomes but also empower individuals to make healthier choices.
