10/4/24 –
As a community pediatrician with firsthand experience, I’ve observed an enduring curiosity among parents and caretakers about food, nutrition and health. I have also sadly met families who struggle to access the very food they need to stave off hunger and optimize their growing child’s health. A child is a core member in the household, vulnerable to stress and environmental changes, yet they are often a missing piece in our “Food as Medicine” conversations.
Food as Medicine (FAM) consists of the strategies and interventions that work as part of healthcare to improve access to nutritious food to prevent, manage or even treat disease. Within FAM, adult food/nutrition insecurity- and diet-related chronic conditions are often prioritized. Unfortunately, children and families are considered an afterthought. When considering a more expansive approach including children within FAM, we encounter several significant considerations, including:
