Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Food as Medicine Strategic Roadmap

Top Things to Know

RDNs involvement ensures that FIM programs are clinically sound and personalized, reinforcing the principle that food-based care must be evidence-driven and patient-centered.

The roadmap calls for policy changes to recognize RDN services as billable healthcare, aligning with FIM’s goal of integrating nutrition into mainstream healthcare financing.

RDNs operate across individual, community, and policy levels, making them vital for designing culturally competent, accessible FIM programs.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Food as Medicine Strategic Roadmap outlines a comprehensive plan to integrate registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) into FIM programs to address chronic disease and nutrition insecurity. The paper emphasizes the effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) delivered by RDNs in improving outcomes for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. It categorizes FIM interventions into MTMs, MTGs, PRx. It does go beyond HCXF initiative's definition by including culinary medicine as a FIM intervention. Despite promising results, the paper identifies gaps in research, inconsistent RDN utilization, and lack of sustainable payment models. The Academy proposes strategic actions to increase access to RDNs, develop reimbursement pathways, and promote interprofessional education. Ultimately, the roadmap positions RDNs as essential leaders in delivering evidence-based nutrition care through FIM programs.