Make America healthy again: is that helping the food as medicine movement or hurting it? And why is it so important to focus on quality food as medicine- which means nutrient density and real quality- rather than settling for simply “more fruit and vegetables”? Why would you, if you can, deny people with severe diabetes and lower incomes the best-quality food possible, especially when it has the biggest ripple effect?
A check-in conversation with Erin Martin, one of the leaders advancing the food as medicine movement in the US. It has been an exciting, interesting, and challenging few years — from speaking on the Hill in Washington, to passing a food as medicine act in her home state of Oklahoma (which has some of the worst health crises in the country), to scaling their program of prescribing produce to reverse type 2 diabetes to over 500 patients. But also: politics, making America and children healthy again, a global and local health crisis spiralling out of control, GLP-1 drugs breaking through, and somehow food and regenerative agriculture becoming polarising, a political minefield.
So much to talk about: the first social impact bond, which isn’t a bond but an outcome-based payment scheme, is coming in early 2026 in Oklahoma. And super important: real data is showing massive savings when it comes to prescribing healthy vegetables, fruit, and cooking classes.
FOOD AS MEDICINE MOVEMENT & PROGRAM IMPACT
Erin discusses the significant growth and proven financial impact of their Fresh Rx produce prescription programme. The data from an independent actuary firm demonstrates the massive return on investment and cost savings for the healthcare system when scaling the intervention.
“If we served 5% of the people with type 2 diabetes on state Medicaid, and we had a 75% success rate, which is kind of where we fall, on average we would save the state $28.5 million net savings.” – Erin Martin
POLICY AND LEGISLATION
Erin details the successful passage of state-level policy in Oklahoma to integrate food as medicine into the healthcare system. The legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, marking a critical step toward sustainable funding and wider implementation.
“We did pass the Food as Medicine Act of Oklahoma on May 1st […] It passed in the house, the final vote, 76 to 8.” – Erin Martin
NUTRIENT DENSITY AND SOURCING QUALITY FOOD
Erin argues for the critical importance of sourcing high-quality, locally grown food from regenerative systems for food as medicine programmes. Equitable care means providing the most nutrient-dense food, especially to those with the greatest health burdens.
“If we have people with the worst health outcomes, we need to give them the best food possible. There are a lot of people in this space that talk a lot about equity and dignity for people who are low income. Well, I don’t see any better way to create equity and dignity than to be giving them the best food possible. ” – Erin Martin
CHALLENGES, POLARISATION, AND THE NEED FOR UNITY
Erin addresses the intense political polarisation but identifies food as medicine as a unifying, bipartisan issue. She emphasises her role as a bridge-builder and believes focusing on this common ground is essential for progress.
“I try to do a really good job of staying very neutral and bridge building, and I really truly believe that this food is medicine movement and food truly unites us, that we actually all really agree on this issue” – Erin Martin
“ I really truly believe that food as medicine is one of the most uniting things that we have left and that we really should get on the whole page. And I really believe that the regenerative ag movement, it’s also expedited alongside food as medicine. And I believe it’s the sweet spot that joining the nexus of those regenerative ag and food as medicine is the ultimate ripple effect.” – Erin Martin
OTHER POINTS DISCUSSED
Koen and Erin also talked about
- GLP-1 drugs comparison
- Behaviour change
- Impact on local food economy
LINKS:
- Fresh Rx
- Food is Medicine Act – Oklahoma
LINKED INTERVIEWS:
- Stephan van Vliet – The first randomised clinical trial comparing agro-ecological grown and supermarket food
- Erin Martin – Saving $750K by providing nutrient dense fruit and vegetables to 50 people with severe diabetes for 12 months
- Tina Owens – Only 1% of nutrition data is tracked on food labels and that means lots of opportunities for companies
- Eric Smith – Commoditization is the root cause of all ecological destruction and human health impacts
- Nutrient Density in Food series
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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.