Food Is Medicine Day Highlights Food and Nutrition Insecurity in Kansas City
Amid the amber waves of grain and vast expanses of fertile land that define Midwest America, a shadow looms large – food insecurity has taken deep root and diet-related illnesses have become commonplace.
In Kansas City, one in eight people - and 16 percent of children under 18 - are food insecure, or unable, at times, to acquire adequate food for one or more household members because they had insufficient money and other resources for food. In Jackson County, Missouri, a modestly priced meal costs $3.17, which is 16 percent more than the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit in that county. Households are forced to make difficult choices between paying bills and putting food on the table.
Importantly, food security is not interchangeable with nutrition security, or having consistent access, availability, and affordability of food that promotes well-being and prevents or treats disease if necessary. Diet-related deaths outrank deaths from smoking, and about half of U.S. deaths from heart disease - or nearly 900 deaths each day - are linked to poor diet. SNAP participants are still more likely to die due to diet-related illnesses, and incredibly, SNAP participants are three times more likely to die from diabetes than the general population. Kansas Citians are not immune to this problematic reality.
The Food Is Medicine movement embraces the belief that food not only addresses hunger but also fosters a culture of health and well-being for all. The concept is not a novel one. For centuries, diverse cultures have recognized the intrinsic connection between what we eat and how our bodies function. Traditional Midwest staples like corn, beans, and squash, known as the "Three Sisters," were more than just sustenance for Native Americans – they held profound medicinal properties. Today, science continues to uncover the myriad ways in which the compounds found in our local produce can positively impact our health
Opportunity abounds at the intersection of food insecurity and diet-treated illness, or medical conditions that can be managed, improved or even prevented through specific dietary interventions. The annual economic burden of health care costs for cardiometabolic diseases, like diabetes, is $50 billion in the United States. Studies show that if all patients in the United States with diet-related diseases received medically tailored meals, $13.6 billion would be saved annually, with 1.6 million fewer hospitalizations per year.
But integrating the Food Is Medicine movement is not solely an individual endeavor; it's a collective movement that can transform communities and healthcare systems. Imagine a Midwest where food pantries and community gardens are not just sources of sustenance, but hubs of healing. Consider a world where schools partner with local farmers to provide fresh, nutritious meals for our children, fueling them with vitality and resilience and setting them on a path of lifelong wellness. Picture medical providers prescribing nutritious food alongside medications, guiding patients toward a healthier plate and a healthier life.
Every year on the 14th of September, National Food Is Medicine Day is celebrated in the United States, raising awareness of embedded barriers that make healthy food inaccessible for under-resourced families and individuals that exacerbate chronic disease, increase mental health challenges, and drive up medical costs. On this day, individuals, groups, private enterprise, and government agencies are encouraged to join together to take a meaningful step to eliminate these barriers. It's time to reclaim health for all and foster a culture of wellness.
Erin Martinez is the Chief Executive Officer of Food Equality Initiative, a nonprofit organization operating at the intersection of food insecurity and diet-treated illnesses. The organization fights for nutrition security and health equity for all by increasing access to nourishing food and providing education and advocacy for traditionally underrepresented groups.
