Food is Medicine
Community Action Plan

Highlight

The Food is Medicine Community Action Plan is a living, collaborative online portal designed to share community-centered Food is Medicine strategies across the United States. Through a series of convenings and long-term partnerships, Food & Society at the Aspen Institute gathered leaders and implementers from healthcare, food systems, public policy, community organizations, technology, and philanthropy to share real-world solutions, case studies, and actionable insights that advance the implementation of Food is Medicine interventions.

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Community at the Core

Community-based organizations are the heart of programs that transform health.

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Community Case Studies

Innovative experts share learnings from on-the-ground experiences.

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Food is Medicine Workshop Insights

Topline insights from community-centered Food is Medicine workshops.

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Introduction: Community at the Core

The Food is Medicine Community Action Plan builds on Food & Society at the Aspen Institute's Research Action Plan by translating the evidence for Food is Medicine into practical, community-driven strategies that improve health, strengthen local food systems, and advance equity. Developed through multi-year convenings with clinics, community organizations, food producers, researchers, payers, and program implementers, the Community Action Plan highlights real-world innovations, elevates what works in diverse settings, and offers actionable guidance on designing, funding, evaluating, and scaling Food is Medicine interventions.

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Introduction: Community at the Core

Case Studies

About Fresh is a mission-driven team of activists, systems thinkers, technologists, and strategic operators dedicated to a future where everyone has access to the food they need to be happy, healthy, and connected.

About Fresh

About Fresh is a mission-driven team of activists, systems thinkers, technologists, and strategic operators dedicated to a future where everyone has access to the food they need to be happy, healthy, and connected.

Ceres Community Project delivers medically tailored meals to individuals with serious health conditions.

Ceres Community Project

Ceres Community Project delivers medically tailored meals to individuals with serious health conditions.

Coding4Food (C4F) is a community-driven project launched to fill this gap by creating new HCPCS codes for the full spectrum of FIM interventions.

Coding4Food

Coding4Food (C4F) is a community-driven project launched to fill this gap by creating new HCPCS codes for the full spectrum of FIM interventions.

Community Servings is a nonprofit organization delivering medically tailored meals (MTM) and medically tailored groceries (MTG) to individuals and families facing serious illness, food insecurity, and nutrition-related challenges.

Community Servings

Community Servings is a nonprofit organization delivering medically tailored meals (MTM) and medically tailored groceries (MTG) to individuals and families facing serious illness, food insecurity, and nutrition-related challenges.

DC Greens is a nonprofit advancing health equity by building a just, resilient food system in Washington, D.C. They collaborate with community members, nonprofits, clinics, local government, and farms to address systemic food access challenges.

DC Greens

DC Greens is a nonprofit advancing health equity by building a just, resilient food system in Washington, D.C. They collaborate with community members, nonprofits, clinics, local government, and farms to address systemic food access challenges.

Located in the MGH Revere HealthCare Center, it serves the local community.

MGH Revere Food Pantry

Located in the MGH Revere HealthCare Center, it serves the local community.

Founded in 2020, Dion’s Chicago Dream is redefining health equity and food security through a logistics-first, dignity-centered model that brings fresh produce directly to families’ doorsteps.

Dion’s Chicago Dream

Founded in 2020, Dion’s Chicago Dream is redefining health equity and food security through a logistics-first, dignity-centered model that brings fresh produce directly to families’ doorsteps.

Meals on Wheels America supports a nationwide network of programs that deliver nutritious meals and social connections.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels America supports a nationwide network of programs that deliver nutritious meals and social connections.

The MGH Revere Food Pantry and Teaching Kitchen is part of Massachusetts General Hospital and operates out of the MGH Revere HealthCare Center in Revere, Massachusetts.

MGH Revere Food Pantry

The MGH Revere Food Pantry and Teaching Kitchen is part of Massachusetts General Hospital and operates out of the MGH Revere HealthCare Center in Revere, Massachusetts.

Morrissey Market is a major contributor to the Food is Medicine movement, offering scalable solutions for intervention programs that address chronic, diet-related diseases.

Morrissey Market

Morrissey Market is a major contributor to the Food is Medicine movement, offering scalable solutions for intervention programs that address chronic, diet-related diseases.

Public Health Solutions (PHS) is a leading New York-based public health organization dedicated to supporting underserved communities in achieving optimal health.

Public Health Solutions

Public Health Solutions (PHS) is a leading New York-based public health organization dedicated to supporting underserved communities in achieving optimal health.

Rethink Food is a chef-led nonprofit dedicated to building a more equitable and sustainable food system.

Rethink Food

Rethink Food is a chef-led nonprofit dedicated to building a more equitable and sustainable food system.

Think Regeneration is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to accelerating change in food and agriculture by supporting farmers in developing circular local economies, sharing peer-to-peer education, improving health outcomes through food, and creating entrepreneurial opportunities.

Think Regeneration

Think Regeneration is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to accelerating change in food and agriculture by supporting farmers in developing circular local economies, sharing peer-to-peer education, improving health outcomes through food, and creating entrepreneurial opportunities.

The University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Culinary Medicine program is housed within an academic medical center that serves a diverse patient population across North Texas, many of whom face chronic diseases and food insecurity.

University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW)

The University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Culinary Medicine program is housed within an academic medical center that serves a diverse patient population across North Texas, many of whom face chronic diseases and food insecurity.

Workshop Reports

Food & Society at the Aspen Institute in partnership with Feeding America network convened leaders from food banks across the country.

Feeding America Workshop

Food & Society at the Aspen Institute in partnership with Feeding America network convened leaders from food banks across the country.

With support from the Ardmore Institute of Health, Food and Society at the Aspen Institute convened a workshop in Tucson, Arizona focused on advancing clearer, more actionable definitions of Food is Medicine.

Tucson Workshop

With support from the Ardmore Institute of Health, Food and Society at the Aspen Institute convened a workshop in Tucson, Arizona focused on advancing clearer, more actionable definitions of Food is Medicine.

On November 13, 2025, Food & Society at the Aspen Institute hosted, Food is Medicine: Funding and Reimbursement Strategies at the MGH Revere Teaching Kitchen.

Boston Workshop

On November 13, 2025, Food & Society at the Aspen Institute hosted, Food is Medicine: Funding and Reimbursement Strategies at the MGH Revere Teaching Kitchen.

We gathered a diverse group of experts, practitioners, and advocates to explore the critical intersection of nutrition and diabetes management.

Tulsa Workshop

We gathered a diverse group of experts, practitioners, and advocates to explore the critical intersection of nutrition and diabetes management.

Helpful Resources

Coordinating scientific research, public policy advocacy and stakeholder education to advance food is medicine interventions that incorporate healthy food into health care to treat, manage and prevent diet-related diseases.

American Heart Association Health Care by Food

Coordinating scientific research, public policy advocacy and stakeholder education to advance food is medicine interventions that incorporate healthy food into health care to treat, manage and prevent diet-related diseases.

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A national coalition of nonprofit organizations that provide medically tailored meals (MTMs) and groceries (MTGs), medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling and education to people in communities across the country living with severe and chronic illnesses.

Food is Medicine Coalition

A national coalition of nonprofit organizations that provide medically tailored meals (MTMs) and groceries (MTGs), medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling and education to people in communities across the country living with severe and chronic illnesses.

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As the premier medical society in lifestyle medicine, we educate and certify healthcare professionals, advocate for the broader practice of lifestyle medicine, build community for clinicians, and provide evidence and research to advance the field.

American College of Lifestyle Medicine

As the premier medical society in lifestyle medicine, we educate and certify healthcare professionals, advocate for the broader practice of lifestyle medicine, build community for clinicians, and provide evidence and research to advance the field.

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In fiscal year 2019, $41 million was awarded, with $8.5 million for the creation of the GusNIP Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE). The GusNIP NTAE Center created the Nutrition Incentive Hub, a coalition of partners to support nutrition incentive and produce prescription projects.

Nutrition Incentive Hub

In fiscal year 2019, $41 million was awarded, with $8.5 million for the creation of the GusNIP Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE). The GusNIP NTAE Center created the Nutrition Incentive Hub, a coalition of partners to support nutrition incentive and produce prescription projects.

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A university-wide collaborative effort based at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, bringing together experts from across disciplines with other local and national collaborators to advance food is medicine research, training, patient care, and community and policy engagement.

Tufts Food is Medicine Institute

A university-wide collaborative effort based at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, bringing together experts from across disciplines with other local and national collaborators to advance food is medicine research, training, patient care, and community and policy engagement.

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Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and programs, that provide food and services to people facing hunger. For every dollar you give, the Feeding America network of food banks helps provide at least 10 meals.

Feeding America

Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and programs, that provide food and services to people facing hunger. For every dollar you give, the Feeding America network of food banks helps provide at least 10 meals.

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Pursuing more equitable, just, and sustainable health and food systems by supporting clients, community partners, and movements with legal expertise and policy advocacy. We are clinical program that educates students to become skilled, innovative, and thoughtful health and food system practitioners.

Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation (CHLPI)

Pursuing more equitable, just, and sustainable health and food systems by supporting clients, community partners, and movements with legal expertise and policy advocacy. We are clinical program that educates students to become skilled, innovative, and thoughtful health and food system practitioners.

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