If pharmaceutical therapies are personalized to prevent and manage chronic disease such as hypertension, why not “farm”-aceutical therapies? So reasoned a group of students at Yale Medical School, whose “Food Pharmacy” program aims to illustrate the importance of the social determinants of health, such as lack of access to healthy food. Held at the student-run Haven Free Clinic, the program is unique within food-insecurity initiatives in its prescription-based approach; clinicians refer their patients to the service, who choose from four meal options each week, customized and designed to their health conditions. In addition to offering recipe cards and allergen information to patients–available in both English and Spanish–the program aims to educate patients on making smart food decisions. Recommended meals might include a healthy beef dish, chicken with stir-fried brown rice, or breakfast pizza. Ultimately, they look to create an environment where patients feel comfortable asking questions and motivated to eat healthier for their medical needs.
