Food As Medicine: A Powerful Health And Wellness Strategy

Supporting Physical And Mental Health

Food as medicine recognizes food’s potential to support health far beyond addressing a single health diagnosis. Food supports both physical and mental health and enhances employee well-being. 

As our parent company’s Food as Medicine Director Dr. Kofi Essel notes: “Nutritious food is one of the most basic building blocks of health. By making it easier for people to identify foods that support their health, access those foods, and find enjoyable ways to incorporate them into their everyday lives, health plans and employers can support better health in a way that is evidence-based, practical, and scalable.”

Food insecurity and poor nutrition have a major impact on employee health and productivity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists poor nutrition among the top four health risk behaviors causing preventable chronic diseases. Poor dietary habits increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and some cancers, and contribute to higher absenteeism and lower productivity.

The Business Case For Food-Based Strategies

A recent study compared the healthcare use and health outcomes of approximately 400 members with diabetes on an employer-led insurance plan who selected a grocery benefit health plan with a group of members with diabetes who did not. The findings suggest a significant decrease in the prevalence of diabetes with complications among the group with the grocery benefit, as well as improved adherence to diabetes medications. 

With approximately 85.7 million Americans covered by their employer-sponsored health insurance, employers are uniquely positioned to make a difference in their employees’ health. By considering food and nutrition as integral components of workforce health, employers may:

• Improve health and wellness, employee productivity, and overall employee experience
• Help manage chronic conditions, which are key drivers of healthcare costs and lost productivity
• Address food insecurity and related social needs that may go unnoticed in traditional health programs

Tailoring Food As Medicine To Enable Sustainable Change

The most effective food-based strategies are those tailored to employees' health needs, personalized to cultural and taste preference, while also being supported by the business. Some options to consider for your employees:

• Individual and group-based nutrition education, cooking classes, and coaching
• Disease management programs
• Produce prescriptions and medically tailored groceries/meals
• Digital tools (like smart scales or nutrition trackers) 
• Providing healthy foods in offices or through virtual wellness programs for remote workers

These approaches are most impactful when integrated with broader health and wellness programs and employee benefits, creating a connected strategy that addresses multiple workforce priorities. Lasting change relies on organizational support, such as offering healthier food options at work, providing digital nutrition tools, facilitating education and support groups, and empowering employees to be aware of their nutrition and reinforce enjoyable healthy behaviors.

Getting Started With Food As Medicine

Employers interested in food-based strategies may:

1. Assess employee needs and available resources
2. Choose a broad or targeted approach
3. Consult health plan partners to evaluate and implement options

Food as medicine is a practical, evidence-based way to improve employee health and wellness. Making nutrition central to employee well-being strategies is a smart investment for organizational success while helping your employees improve their overall health.