Food is Health: New medically tailored meal program brings innovative partners to the table and wholesome, local food to the doorsteps of patients living on the West Side of Chicago

Rush University Medical Center, along with partners The Common Market Great Lakes, a nonprofit local food distributor, and ChiFresh Kitchen, a cooperatively owned catering company based on the South Side of Chicago, is uncovering new ways to enhance food access and nutritional well-being in the Chicago metro.

The Chicago Region Food System Fund fueled the engagement, awarding the partners an initial grant of $100,000 to support the purchase, incorporation, and delivery of locally sourced ingredients through medically tailored meals (MTM). These meals will be provided to homebound older adults and patients enrolled in the Rush@Home primary care house call program, which operates in Chicago’s West Side.

This pilot program, which introduces a unique approach to food distribution and MTMs, aims to serve approximately 60 patients experiencing food insecurity, many of whom are managing chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. The pilot commenced with its first delivery on July 22 and will continue through September 2024.

Julia Bassett, director of the Food Is Medicine – Veggie Rx program at Rush says the partnership will pave the way for new ideas for improving public health: “We are not only bringing wholesome, local food to the doorsteps of those in need but also uncovering innovative ways to support our community's health.”

Behind the meals

The big-picture goal? The partners plan to provide consistent access to meals with high nutritional quality featuring locally sourced ingredients as it promises to enhance health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and increase patient satisfaction.

Presently, in addition to routine visits from nurse practitioners or physicians, RUSH@Home patients receive monthly shipments of shelf-stable food boxes, and a percentage also receive pre-made meals. However, the program coordinators noted the opportunity to better meet the patient's nutritional needs and overall satisfaction.

The new three-month pilot will include the delivery of seven meals a week, shares ChiFresh Kitchen’s co-owner, Edrinna Bryant. Nearly 5,000 medically tailored meals will reach participants throughout the pilot.

ChiFresh chefs have designed recipes that combine local ingredients sourced from The Common Market Great Lakes farmer network (think: “Local organic collard greens, freshly harvested russet potatoes, mushrooms, and grass-fed beef) with familiar flavors, yielding culturally appropriate meals that meet the unique nutritional requirements of the participants.

“ChiFresh Kitchen is excited to be partnering on this innovative project with Rush University Medical Center and The Common Market to build on our home-delivered, medically tailored meal program, and provide lovingly made meals with fresh local produce to improve the wellness of our fellow Chicagoans,” Bryant adds.

ChiFresh Kitchen’s mission is to support Black women oppressed by the criminal injustice system so they can grow and thrive.

“As a women- and minority-led worker-owned cooperative, ChiFresh is uniquely positioned to cater to diverse nutritional needs while championing community-centric approaches,” Bryant says.

Partnerships for impact

Rush is pivotal in identifying and addressing health inequities in West Side neighborhoods. Through initiatives like Produce prescription programs, site-based food pantry programs, and this new MTM program, Rush is committed to improving health outcomes and life expectancy.

“We are excited to serve patients facing food insecurity, many of whom are managing chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes,” Basset says. “Food is medicine, and this program is a testament to our dedication to improving the quality of life within our neighboring communities.”

This phase aims to assess the impact on participants' quality of life and healthcare provider costs, laying the groundwork for future long-term investments. Participants will be surveyed throughout the pilot to gauge impact.

In an era where access to nutritious food is both a health and equity issue, initiatives spearheaded by The Common Market, ChiFresh Kitchen, and Rush University Medical Center stand as beacons of hope. By connecting Chicago's good food to anchor institutions and underserved communities, this project addresses immediate nutritional needs and lays the groundwork for a more resilient and inclusive food system.

The focus areas for the pilot span various sectors beyond health, explains Eliana Pinilla, Partnerships Director of The Common Market Great Lakes, including economic and community development, emergency food distribution, regional farming and food businesses, and food chain workers.

“This program engages such diverse partners. It has the power to create a ripple effect of positive change, impacting not only individuals' health but also local economies and food systems,” Pinilla says.

Want to learn more about the Food is Health, Medically Tailored Meal Program pilot? Be in touch, and be sure to follow along for updates.