Food + Health

Food is Medicine South Carolina is a coalition of state government agencies, nonprofit organizations, higher education, health systems, and health care providers in South Carolina. Together, they collaborate on health initiatives that help build an equitable, accessible, and economically diverse, local food system in our state!

Feeding America has provided a tool called Map the Meal Gap as a way to show local food insecurity and food costs to improve our understanding of people and places facing hunger. This interactive map shows annual food insecurity estimates for the overall population and children in every county, congressional district, and state.

The USDA is responsible for climate, agriculture, and food priorities nationwide. They understand that poor nutrition is a leading cause of illness in the U.S. and work to alleviate it using public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

The North Carolina Alliance for Health (NCAH) is an independent, statewide, nonpartisan coalition of individuals and organizations that works to convene, mobilize, support, and empower partners to advance equitable policies that reduce health disparities, prevent chronic disease, and promote health.

Blue Cross NC Foundation supported Food Insight Group and Seeds of Change to conduct research of Healthy Food Prescription programs in North Carolina in order to identify active programs, outline the diversity of operational approaches, and report on elements needed to grow the Healthy Food Prescription movement. You can review and download the report here.

The main objective of this program is to “promote the production, marketing, and consumption of food grown and caught within North Carolina.” Find a brief overview of services and programs offered through this program here.

Cover South Carolina seeks to increase access to healthcare to improve the productivity of the workforce. 

Remember the food pyramid? No more. Meet MyPlate, the official symbol of the five food groups.