Nufer: Food is medicine
Health Colorado’s Community Reinvestment grants have provided much needed support to many community agencies serving Medicaid members. One of the most interesting ones is Project Angel Heart. Health Colorado funded a $104,900 grant to provide 5,285 medically tailored meals to 133 people.
Health Colorado Project Angel Heart began when a group of neighbors in Denver delivered a warm meal to twelve friends living with HIV/AIDS in the fall of 1991. That kindness and compassion formed Project Angel Heart. Project Angel Heart has grown from just providing food for the ill to educating them on their “food is medicine” program.
Using food as medicine teaches people about the importance of proper nutrition and how it may play a vital role in their overall good health. When an individual's health is compromised with chronic disease, proper food choices may improve their health. Unfortunately, accessing and preparing nutritious meals is challenging for those who are ill. Limited energy and mobility can make cooking nearly impossible. For those living without a caregiver or struggling with the financial burden of hospital bills, accessing food is even harder.
Research shows that one in three individuals living with a chronic illness routinely makes the choice between buying food or buying their medication. Not having access to appropriate food may lead to worsening health issues, longer and more frequent hospital stays, and higher health care costs. Delivering fresh and nutritious meals to a person’s home not only improves their physical health but their mental health as well.
Project Angel Heart’s services are community informed, patient centered, and adhere to evidence based guidelines. Meals are designed and approved by a registered dietitian to ensure positive health outcomes. Meals are diabetic-friendly, heart-healthy with modifications for allergies or other food restrictions.
Some of the clients are living with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, cancer or experiencing a high-risk pregnancy.
The meals are made from scratch by professional chefs in Project Angel Heart’s kitchens using fresh, locally-sourced, organic, and seasonal ingredients. The meals are then flash-frozen to maintain freshness. The meals are packed and then shipped by FedEx to members. Each member will receive seven medically tailored meals per week, for eight weeks, upon referral to the program by their physician.
Meal service will be available in Alamosa, Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Lake, Las Animas, Mineral, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties. The nutritional services and education are done virtually.
Due to the extreme need, there may be a wait time. You can go to www.projectangelheart.org to see if you qualify and to submit a request for services. Project Angel Heart can also be reached at 303-830-0202. A client services assistant will contact you to get more information.
Realizing the correlation between good nutrition and good health goes back to over 2,400 years ago. Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” clearly emphasizing the importance of nutrition to prevent or cure disease.
Betty Nufer is a community advocate and cheerleader for those who need support getting through the rough times in life. She can be reached at 72bettynufer@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Nufer: Food is medicine
