Food is many things. It nourishes our bodies, delights our senses, and gives us something to gather around. Food is also a powerful cultural symbol, reflecting traditions, values, and histories of communities around the world.
But for a researcher in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, food is also medicine. Bailey Houghtaling, Ph.D.
, a registered dietician, is working to promote overall wellness among low-income individuals experiencing food insecurity , aiming to prevent or treat diet-related diseases. "Access to enough nutritious food is essential for individual well-being," said Houghtaling, also a registered dietician and an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. "Food is Medicine can encompass a variety of interventions.
" The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, held in September 2022, renewed national attention and issued a call to action to end hunger and reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States by 2030. Food is Medicine programs could help reach this goal. "These programs are promising, and there is a lot of emphasis at the moment on understanding effectiveness for promoting food and nutrition security, although it is important to recognize that Food is Medicine programs are implemented in diverse communities and health care organizations with varying levels of support or capacity," said Houghtaling, who is also a research scientist with Center for Nutrition and Health Im.
