Food Is Medicine: Bringing Nutrition Into Healthcare

Food is more than fuel—it’s medicine. In this episode of Health Talks, we sit down with Janna Simon, Chief Program and Policy Officer at the Illinois Public Health Institute, to explore how food and nutrition programs are transforming healthcare across the state. From produce prescriptions to innovative community partnerships, Janna shares how IPHI’s Food is Medicine initiatives are improving health outcomes, addressing food insecurity, and bringing care beyond the clinic walls.

We also get into real examples of successful collaborations with Community Health Centers, tips for getting started with your own food and nutrition program, and how CHCs can play a leading role in connecting patients to healthy, nourishing food. Whether you're new to the concept or ready to expand your impact, this episode is packed with practical advice, hope, and a vision for what’s possible when healthcare and food systems come together.

Contact/Connect:
Join the Alliance for Health Equity: https://www.allhealthequity.org/contact
Join the Illinois Alliance to Promote Opportunities for Health: https://bit.ly/IAPOHform
Contact IPHI: [e-mail] 

Produce Prescription Resources:

• Produce Prescription Project Readiness Checklist, created for the Michigan Farmers Market Association via the Nutrition Incentive Hub: https://www.nutritionincentivehub.org/media/e3tnbckg/produce-prescription-project-readiness-checklist_final.pdf
• The Prescription for Health Program Implementation Guide from the Washtenaw County, MI Health Department: https://www.nutritionincentivehub.org/media/lxubhj45/prescription-for-health-implementation-guide.pdf

 Learn more about Food is Medicine: https://aspenfood.org/fim/