Austin Clinic Writes Prescripti​ons for Fruits and Vegetables (FVRx)

“I am cooking more fruits and vegetables,” Maria Gonzalez nodded, when asked about the impact of the Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx) on her family’s lifestyle. “Now my daughter is eating vegetables, when before, she wasn’t eating vegetables at all. This program makes vegetables more available to my family, making it the easy choice for them.”

An innovative project combining the health intervention of fruit and vegetable prescriptions with cooking classes for pregnant mothers is finding success thanks to People’s Community Clinic (PCC), Sustainable Food Center (SFC) and their funding partners, St. David’s Foundation and Wholesome Wave.

Recognizing that pregnancy affords a valuable opportunity to encourage women to make behavior changes that improve immediate health outcomes and reduce the risk of future chronic disease in both mother and child, PCC has launched the Prenatal and Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Project in collaboration with the Wholesome Wave Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program and SFC. This unique pilot aligns with the Centers for Disease Control’s Measures Project for Obesity Prevention by encompassing strategies that promote the expanded availability and consumption of fruits and vegetables, improved use of farmers’ markets, and increased support for breastfeeding.

Three groups of ten women each (approximately 30 total patients), recruited from the same geographic area are currently receiving nutrition-related information and peer support through group activities that will complement their regular prenatal visits to the clinic. Additionally, during the prenatal visits for the 30 participants, PCC doctors and nurse practitioners issue FVRx prescriptions monthly for six months as part of the patient’s routine care.

“We are delighted to support efforts by these innovative local nonprofit organizations to foster healthy eating habits in our community! Kudos to People’s Community Clinic and Sustainable Food Center for partnering to create this unique and promising new program,” said Earl Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer of St. David’s Foundation.

Clients are available for interviews upon request.

About People’s Community Clinic
PCC’s mission is to improve the health of medically underserved and uninsured Central Texans by providing high quality, affordable health care. As the medical home for 11,000 low-income patients, the Clinic delivers a comprehensive, holistic approach to primary care that covers the lifespan and improves the health and well-being of our community. http://www.austinpcc.org/

About Sustainable Food Center
SFC cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. www.sustainablefoodcenter.org.