Bring Food Into Healing
Diet is the number one risk factor for chronic disease in Canada.
Food is a key social determinant of health that can reduce the growing pressure on the health care system and build health. Health care organizations have many assets that can be better utilized to anchor health and well-being through food. Land, courtyards, and buildings can be used for gardens, on-site composting, and food access initiatives like farmers’ markets. Screening for food insecurity enables referrals and builds evidence to inform cross-cutting policy. Food prescribing is a fast-growing innovation area. The health care sector can play an essential role in promoting healthy eating and advocating for healthy food access for everyone.
ACTIONS to Bring Food into Healing
Food Access Programs
Health care institutions can bring to life their health-promoting missions by hosting farmers’ markets and Community Shared Agriculture programs to enable fresh food access in their communities, creating healthy food environments. Successful hospital cafeterias that are a popular destination for on-site dining or take-home staff meals can also generate revenue for the organization.
Onsite Growing and Composting
Health care institution land and rooftops, can be repurposed for onsite food and traditional medicine production. Gardens can grow food for the community and the facility, offer sites for horticultural therapy, create habitat for pollinators and promote biodiversity, and provide beautiful spaces for everyone to enjoy. On-site composting transforms food waste and enriches gardens, creating a virtuous circle.
Food Insecurity Screening
Screening for food insecurity is a simple step for health care organizations to better understand and identify supports individuals and families need to promote and maintain health.
Food Prescribing
In various health systems around the world, doctors and other healthcare professionals prescribe healthy food for community members who need it for their health. The Ontario Social Prescribing Pilot led by the Alliance for Healthier Communities found that patients referred to non-clinical social supports improved health, reduced isolation, and built more resilient communities. Social prescribing is ready to scale broadly to support a more integrated health system and build more connected communities.
Food as a Clinical Pathway
Health care practitioners can reimagine the role of food as central to health promotion. Food and nutrition can often improve clinical outcomes and patient experiences, and promote health outcomes such as prevention and reduction of chronic disease. Food has long been treated as ancillary to health care, but embracing food as a clinical pathway could have significant impacts on population health.
RESOURCES to Bring Food into Healing:
Alliance for Healthier Communities, Rx: Community - Social Prescribing in Ontario
Health Care Without Harm, Farmers Markets and CSAs on Hospital Grounds
Nourish Innovator Project, Glengarry Memorial Hospital Garden video