食物即良药
休斯顿食品银行供稿
九月 28, 2026
What is that old saying? Feed a cold and starve a fever? The reality is that our bodies depend on nutritious food to support our immune systems so we can get and stay healthy. Food is medicine.
In 2025, Houston Food Bank distributed over 118 million nutritious pounds of food resulting in approximately 98 million nutritious meals. Nutritious food is particularly important for our Food for Change strategy that pairs nutritious food with other services to improve life outcomes for participants.
Two programs under this strategy are Food Prescription (Rx) and Medically Tailored Meals. To participate in FoodRx, neighbors are referred by a Houston Food Bank partner after they are found to be experiencing food insecurity and an ongoing health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Paired with nutrition education and support, monthly access to produce and other nutritious food have proven to lower A1C levels (a measure of average blood sugar levels).
Medically Tailored Meals are another Food for Change program. These meals are tailored by a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, and delivered to the homes of individuals living with complex, severe, or chronic illnesses who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves.
These programs play an important role in reducing food insecurity and the negative health outcomes that come with it. But we need them to be supported by health insurance payment models so they can reach those who truly need it.
