Kentucky agriculture commissioner, hospital association kick off ‘Food is Medicine’ campaign

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Department of Agriculture and agriculture commissioner Jonathan Shell are joining forces with the Kentucky Hospital Association to develop a “Food is Medicine” campaign about the power of food and its connection to healthier living.

Through increasing access to local, healthy food options, Shell and Kentucky’s hospitals are working together to make plans for a positive impact on communities across the state, according to a release by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

“Access to nutritious food is critical to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Shell said. “Advocating that connection between food and health is essential to meeting the goal of less chronic disease and longer lifespans. But it’s more than a message about choosing the right foods, it’s also a message about expanding our food distribution networks within the agriculture industry.”

The collaboration recognizes how richer nourishment can result in improved health, healthier lifestyles and lasting positive results.

The release states Shell will help connect Kentucky hospital officials to local producers to access nutritious options closer to hospital locations.

According to the department of agriculture, the overall average percentage of local food being served at 50 hospitals across Kentucky was 15 percent.

Five areas of campaign will include:

• Looking at the food a hospital is serving to patients
• Creating partnerships between hospitals and local farmers
• Connecting patients with resources to a consistent healthy food resource
• Creating outreach for patients who need a special diet, for example, diabetes patients, and could benefit from having a resource to fresh
• food; and
• Expanding existing initiatives that connect Kentuckians to healthy food options