Researchers studied a program that gave military veterans free fresh vegetables and fruits as part of their medical care. The program, called “Food is Medicine,” worked with 545 veterans in two major cities to see if providing healthy food could improve their health. The study focused on learning what worked well and what challenges doctors and hospitals faced when trying to set up these programs. The findings show that while giving patients nutritious food is a great idea, hospitals need to plan carefully for things like storing food, getting it to patients, and keeping track of who receives it.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How well hospitals and doctors can give free fresh produce to patients as a treatment for health problems and food shortages
- Who participated: 545 military veterans in two large cities who participated in a produce prescription program through their health care organization
- Key finding: The program successfully provided fresh vegetables and fruits to veterans, but doctors learned important lessons about planning, storage, delivery, and tracking that are needed to make these programs work smoothly in hospitals
- What it means for you: If you struggle to afford healthy food or have diet-related health problems, your doctor may be able to prescribe fresh produce as part of your treatment. However, hospitals need better systems in place to make this work reliably for all patients who need it
The Research Details
This was a real-world study where researchers watched how a military health care organization set up and ran a produce prescription program for veterans. Instead of testing whether the program worked better than something else, the researchers focused on understanding the practical challenges and successes that doctors and staff experienced when actually running the program. They gathered information from the providers (doctors and staff) who were involved in giving out the produce prescriptions to see what they learned along the way. This type of study is valuable because it shows what really happens when you try to add a new program to a busy hospital or clinic, not just whether the idea works in theory.
Understanding how to actually run these programs in real hospitals is just as important as knowing whether they help patients. Many good health ideas fail because hospitals don’t know how to set them up properly. By learning from the veterans’ program, other hospitals can avoid the same mistakes and set up their own produce prescription programs more successfully.
This study provides practical, real-world information from people who actually ran the program. However, because it focused on learning lessons rather than measuring health improvements, it doesn’t tell us whether the produce prescriptions actually made veterans healthier. The study was limited to military veterans in two cities, so the results may not apply exactly the same way to other groups of people or different locations. The findings are most useful for hospitals planning similar programs, not for proving that produce prescriptions cure diseases.
What the Results Show
The researchers found that the produce prescription program successfully reached 545 veterans and provided them with fresh vegetables and fruits. The main lesson was that while the basic idea works, hospitals need to think carefully about many practical details. These include how to store fresh produce so it doesn’t spoil, how to get the food to patients who may have transportation problems, how to keep track of who gets what, and how to make sure the program fits into the regular work that doctors and nurses already do. The study showed that without planning for these details, even a good program can run into problems. For example, some veterans might not be able to pick up their produce, or the food might go bad before patients can use it. The researchers also found that staff needed clear instructions and training to run the program smoothly.
The study revealed that successful programs need strong support from hospital leadership, clear communication between different departments, and enough staff to handle the extra work. Veterans appreciated receiving the produce, which suggests that patients are interested in this type of help. The program also showed that doctors felt good about being able to prescribe something that directly addresses food insecurity and poor diet, which are major health problems. However, the study didn’t measure whether the produce actually improved veterans’ health or reduced their medical problems.
Food is Medicine programs are becoming more popular across the country, but most studies focus on whether they improve health. This research adds to our knowledge by explaining the behind-the-scenes work needed to make these programs actually happen in hospitals. Previous research suggested these programs could help patients, but this study shows that good intentions aren’t enough—hospitals need detailed planning and resources to make them work in real life.
The study only looked at military veterans in two cities, so the results may not apply the same way to other groups like children, elderly people, or people in rural areas. The researchers didn’t measure whether the produce actually improved veterans’ health, weight, or disease management—they only looked at whether the program could be run. The study didn’t compare this program to other ways of helping patients with food insecurity, so we don’t know if produce prescriptions are better than other solutions. Finally, because this was a pilot program, it may have had more support and attention than a regular program would get, which could affect how well the lessons apply to other hospitals.
The Bottom Line
If you’re a hospital or clinic leader interested in starting a produce prescription program, use the lessons from this study to plan carefully. Make sure you have storage space for fresh food, a system to deliver produce to patients, staff training, and clear communication between departments. If you’re a patient with food insecurity or diet-related health problems, talk to your doctor about whether a produce prescription program is available in your area. The evidence suggests these programs are helpful, though more research is needed to prove they improve health outcomes. Confidence level: Moderate—the program worked logistically, but we need more studies to prove health benefits.
Hospital administrators and doctors should care about this research because it provides a practical roadmap for starting produce prescription programs. Patients with food insecurity, low income, or diet-related diseases like diabetes or heart disease should care because this could be a new way for doctors to help them. People interested in food justice and health equity should care because these programs help address unfair differences in health between rich and poor communities. However, if you have a well-stocked kitchen and plenty of money for fresh food, this research is less directly relevant to you, though it may still interest you as a way to help others.
If a hospital starts a produce prescription program, they should expect to see the program running smoothly within a few months once they’ve worked out the logistics. However, seeing real health improvements in patients may take longer—probably several months to a year or more. Changes in diet quality might show up faster than changes in weight or disease markers like blood sugar levels.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If you receive a produce prescription, track the number of servings of fresh vegetables and fruits you eat each day using the app. Set a goal of 5 servings per day and log what you actually eat. This helps you see if the produce prescription is helping you eat more healthy foods.
- Use the app to set a reminder to pick up your produce prescription on the scheduled day. Create a simple meal plan in the app using the vegetables and fruits you receive, so you know how to use them before they spoil. Share photos of your meals with the app to stay motivated and accountable.
- Track your produce intake weekly and review your progress monthly. Note any changes in how you feel, your energy levels, or your hunger. If you have a health condition like diabetes, ask your doctor to check relevant measurements (like blood sugar) every 3 months to see if the produce prescription is helping. Share this data with your health care team through the app if possible.
This research describes how to run a produce prescription program in hospitals, not whether it cures diseases. While providing fresh food to patients is a good idea supported by health experts, this study alone does not prove that produce prescriptions will improve your specific health condition. Always talk to your doctor before making major changes to your diet or health care plan. If you have a serious medical condition, food allergies, or take medications that interact with certain foods, ask your doctor or a registered dietitian before starting a produce prescription program. This information is educational and should not replace professional medical advice.