Many kids in D.C. don鈥檛 have access to healthy fruits and vegetables. But a program that鈥檚 trying to change that is now expanding.
It鈥檚 run by and it allows doctors to that are not getting enough healthy foods in their diets.
That鈥檚 sometimes the case in D.C. because people don鈥檛 have access to healthy food in their neighborhood. Through the program, families can pick up groceries recommended by their physician at a “food pharmacy” located at the their doctor’s office after appointments.
says plan president, Adrian Jordan.
鈥淭his will feed an additional 150 families over about 3 years,鈥� Jordan said.
The donation more than doubles the number of family鈥檚 who can be helped, which right now is about 120.
Jordan says the great thing about the program is that families can tailor what they receive. For example, if a child really likes oranges or kiwis, doctors can make sure more those get in the box. He says there鈥檚 also more specific help for those receiving the boxes of food.
“The really cool part of this is it鈥檚 just not giving you a box full of Brussels sprouts and lettuce and saying ‘Go be heathy.’ They actually will have a nutritionist who will tell you how to make it taste well,鈥� said Jordan.
Amerigroup says its research shows rates of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in children have been rapidly increasing in the last few years, partly as a consequence of the childhood obesity epidemic and lack of access to healthy fruits and vegetables.
