Initiative aims to improve health outcomes, address food insecurity, support local farmers, and address food waste.
When it comes to living healthy, it’s easier when you have a village. Thanks to grants from the American Heart Association and Health Forward Foundation, Altruism, Inc. is launching a food as Medicine program in Lafayette County that couples education, resources, and support to help participants actively self-monitor blood pressure. Funds from the American Heart Association enabled Altruism to purchase blood pressure monitors that program participants can use to monitor their blood pressure, as well as share systolic/diastotic readings with their provider.
Coined as the FaM Program, support from Health Forward enables Altruism to purchase food from rural and urban farms, as well as an organic online grocery platform that offers fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and poultry. The food as medicine portion of the program extends from Lafayette County to Jackson and neighboring counties. The FaM program centers pregnant individuals but is open to all Altruism clients. High blood pressure is the biggest indicator of preeclampsia in pregnant women.
“What excites me about this program is that it offers a tetrad of goodness,” said Tonia Wright, CEO of Altruism, Inc. “We help our rural clients monitor their blood pressure, as they tend to have higher rates of hypertension than their urban counterparts. Second, we support both rural and urban clients with fresh produce and dry goods at a time when SNAP benefits are snatched or rolled back—increasing food insecurity. Third, we support our local farmers. And fourth, we make a contribution to fighting good waste and creating a sustainable food system by partnering with a web-based grocer that’s made this their mission.”
Participants of the FaM Program will participate in group nutrition education sessions, have access to healthy recipes and food demonstrations, as well as receive incentives for ongoing, consistent participation. All participants will receive monthly food deliveries and will have coaches to help them set and reach personal goals.
The self-monitoring blood pressure cohort runs for six months, with plans to extend this program to urban clients. The food as medicine program runs for 24 months. Non-intrusive data collection gleans program efficacy, food security outcomes, and cursory outcomes when healthy foods are meshed with intentional blood pressure self-monitoring.
To learn more about the program, visit Altruism-inc.org.
