Physicians, dietitians and health care professionals can now prescribe a Good Food Box from Nanaimo Foodshare Society to improve healthcare outcomes. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

great diet

Valuable Good Food Box program expanding to help medical patients

Dec 2, 2020 | 4:23 PM

NANAIMO — Health care patients can now be prescribed a better diet to improve their condition.

The Good Food Box program from Nanaimo Foodshare Society was prescribed by local physicians, dietitians and health professionals beginning this week.

The weekly box of food includes fresh fruits and vegetables to provide nutrients patients may not be getting.

The Society’s executive director Jen Cody, who’s also a registered dietician, said this prescription initiative can save lives.

“Diet has a huge impact on health, for good and for ill. If we all support healthy eating, we can prevent our families or ourselves from being sick and dying from illnesses like diabetes, cancer and heart disease.”

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The initiative is expanding with help from Island Health.

Heather Tant, manager of the Chronic Disease Management and Nutrition Therapy department at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, said “access to adequate and healthy food can reduce the need for hospital admission. The Good Food Box Prescription initiative will help us connect our patients to food resources in the community.”

Those with serious food and health concerns will have a guide, known as a food navigator, at their side. These navigators will work closely with the patient to develop food access and skills plans to tackle any health problems.

The expansion of the Good Food Box program was made possible with a nearly $30,000 grant from the McConnell Foundation.

Each Good Food Box is offered weekly with enough fruits and vegetables to keep families full.

The program expanded in early 2019 to include more locally grown fruits and vegetables.

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