'Using food as medicine' | How a food pharmacy is combating food insecurity in DC

WASHINGTON — In a departure from traditional pharmacies, Unity Health Care has launched a food pharmacy in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 7, providing fresh produce, proteins, and grains instead of pills. The initiative aims to address the urgent need for nutritious meals among seniors facing food insecurity.

"Times are hard right now, so we try to take every resource we have to put a meal together," said Carolyn Braswell, a pre-diabetic patient who benefits from the program. "It means a lot; it really does."

The food pharmacy, a partnership between Unity Health Care and the Capital Area Food Bank, offers free groceries and recipe cards to help patients prepare healthy meals. Braswell, like many in the area, finds it challenging to afford nutritious food. "We don’t have access to a lot of nutritional options. You try to figure out how to shop economically while still getting the nutrition you need," she explained.

The program is made possible by a $5 million grant from the Marriott Foundation. Dr. Jessica Henderson Boyd, president and CEO of Unity Health Care, noted that eligible older adults with hypertension, diabetes, or other food-related illnesses can receive prescriptions for medically tailored meals. Participants can collect up to 40 pounds of groceries every two weeks for up to five years. Once a patient gets assigned a primary care provider, they are screened for all the social drivers of health such as employment, food, transportation, and housing. Once the provider determines a patient is food insecure, they will write the prescription and the patient can shop for fresh groceries. According to Unity Health Care, the program has the potential to impact 2,000 families over the next five years. 

"This is what is needed," said Andre Brooks, another resident benefitting from the food pharmacy. "People don’t have access; they’re trying to get it on their own because we’re dealing with a food desert in Ward 7 and Ward 8."

According to Radha Muthiah, CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank, individuals facing food insecurity are twice as likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. "These diseases can be addressed with better and more nutritious foods," she said.

Braswell visits the food pharmacy as often as possible, hoping to eventually reduce her reliance on medication. "Medication affects different parts of your body. You want to do things that won’t hinder you in the long run," she said.

Dr. Boyd highlighted the stark disparities in health outcomes across the city, noting a 16-year life expectancy gap between Ward 3, an affluent area, and Ward 8, which is near Anacostia. Since opening six weeks ago, the food pharmacy has already served 50 families weekly, and Unity Health Care is exploring the possibility of opening another location in Ward 8 to further meet community needs.