Opportunities for Individual- and Population-Specific Adaptations in Food is Medicine: A Scoping Review

Top Things to Know

Disease-specific tailoring appears to be a defining strength of FIM programs.

Cultural relevance and community engagement are important opportunities for improving FIM impact.

The review identified gaps in tailoring for children, families, pregnant individuals, and diverse language groups.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

This scoping review examined how Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions in the United States are adapted to meet the needs of different populations, analyzing 89 studies of medically tailored meals (MTM), medically tailored groceries (MTG), and produce prescription (PRx) programs. Most studies (80.9%) incorporated at least one adaptation, with disease-state tailoring (46.1%) and culture/community tailoring (43.8%) being the most common approaches. Disease-specific adaptations were especially prevalent in MTM and MTG programs and typically involved aligning food provision with evidence-based dietary guidelines (e.g., ADA, American Heart Association, DASH) and incorporating support from Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Culture- and community-focused adaptations included translation of materials, culturally relevant foods and recipes, community engagement in program design, and client-choice models that allowed participants to select foods that fit their preferences and household needs. In contrast, relatively few studies adapted interventions for age or household size, and pediatric, pregnant/postpartum, and non-English-speaking populations were underrepresented. Overall, the review found that while FIM programs frequently tailor services to health conditions and community contexts, there remain substantial opportunities to expand and deepen adaptations to improve reach, equity, and effectiveness across diverse populations.