Narrative review: food as medicine across the pediatric age continuum

Top Things to Know

The review provides evidence that FIM interventions can effectively address diet-related chronic diseases and food insecurity in pediatric populations.

Effective implementation of FAM interventions from prenatal to adolescence is crucial.

To ensure all children have access to healthful food, the review suggests integration of these interventions into healthcare settings, supported by federal nutrition programs.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The review explores the FIM framework across the pediatric age continuum, emphasizing its potential to address diet-related chronic diseases and food insecurity. It highlights that FIM interventions, such as medically tailored meals (MTMs), medically tailored groceries (MTGs), and produce prescriptions (PRx), can improve diet quality, health outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. The review underscores the importance of integrating these interventions into pediatric healthcare settings from prenatal to adolescence. It also discusses the role of federal nutrition programs (FNPs) in supporting food and nutrition security for children. The review calls for more research to optimize delivery, design, and funding strategies for pediatric FIM interventions.