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**Food Is Medicine: The ‘Big Bet’ Changing How America Eats**
In a bold move to revolutionize healthcare, The Rockefeller Foundation is investing $100 million in the “Food is Medicine” (FIM) initiative. This innovative program aims to combat diet-related diseases by providing veterans with access to fresh, healthy food and nutrition-based healthcare.
The initiative has already shown promising results, as evidenced by the story of Herman Johnson, an Army veteran who was struggling with chronic health conditions. Through FIM, Johnson discovered a new appreciation for vegetables, which he now grows in his own garden. With the support of his VA primary care doctor, Dr. Zachary Decatur, Johnson has seen significant improvements in his overall health.
By providing veterans like Johnson with access to fresh, healthy food and nutrition-based healthcare, FIM seeks to reduce diet-related diseases and cut healthcare costs. The program is being piloted across five states, with the ultimate goal of expanding it nationwide.
The Rockefeller Foundation’s commitment to this initiative underscores its confidence in the potential for Food is Medicine to transform healthcare. President Rajiv Shah emphasized that “big bets” require measuring and documenting results, which is precisely what FIM aims to do. By demonstrating the efficacy of food as medicine, the foundation hopes to encourage Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurers to cover these programs.
The program’s impact is already evident in patient satisfaction rates, with a net promoter score of 9.5 out of 10. While long-term health data is still developing, early research suggests that participants have reported better overall health, accompanied by significant drops in BMI and ANC levels.
It’s clear that Food is Medicine has the potential to change the healthcare landscape. By providing access to fresh vegetables and nutrition-based care, FIM can help combat chronic diseases, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2025/03/19/food-is-medicine-the-big-bet-changing-how-america-eats/
