Doctors And Farmers Team Up In Texas To Give Patients Prescription ...

Thanks to a partnership between World Hunger Relief Inc and Family Health Center, doctors in Texas are now looking to supply patients with prescription vegetables to try and offer a preventative measure to many illnesses which are allegedly rooted in a poor diet.

The project is being funded via a grant from the Episcopal Health Foundation. And through their new prescription program, they say that they have been able to eliminate the barriers for many when it comes to having access to fresh vegetables.

The plan is for patients to receive boxes of fresh vegetables for about 10 weeks and patients at various clinics will be able to have their prescriptions for their vegetable recommendations filled after they visit the doctor, right in the lobby of the healthcare facility.

Intention for the program is to try and address the root problems surrounding food insecurity. There are still many people living in low income areas around the U.S. who get much of their food from convenience stores and dollar stores etc, a number of them don't have access to healthy and fresh options in the way of fruits or vegetables.

Other programs similar to this one, are those like the VegRx program or the FVRx program (Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program).

There are various initiatives going on around the country that are similar to this project.

They aren't only giving food either, aside from giving out fresh vegetables and other produce, they're also looking to offer things like cooking demonstrations and other classes in order to help people transition to eating differently.

The FVRx program alone is said to be operational in 10 states already and serving roughly 8,000 different people. And for those who are a part of the program, roughly 91 percent have said that they feel happier with their health and weight now after receiving the food and being able to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet.

A number of food banks have also been working along with health clinics in order to try and help the people get the vegetables and fruits that they want and need. In the last few years, a growing number of food banks have started to ask for donations that are healthier, encouraging donations of more vegetable options and less of processed foods and candy etc.

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Sources:
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/health/local-groups-join-for-prescription-vegetable-program/article_376da277-c23e-56be-b163-31d0bbf8b0f2.html
http://www.worldhungerrelief.org/about/#sustainable-practices
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-access-healthy-idUSTRE50K5NW20090121
http://mashable.com/2015/12/08/supermarkets-food-deserts/#_0AGKozS5Sq5
http://myjournalcourier.com/features/food/110085/some-waco-families-get-prescription-vegetables-for-health
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/Health/2017/05/30/Some-Waco-families-get-prescription-vegetables-for-health.html
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/dining/2016/08/12/doctors-prescribes-veggies-new-vegrx-program/88627600/
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-some-doctors-are-prescribing-veggies.html
https://studentedge.org/article/four-in-five-aussies-not-eating-enough-fruit-and-veg