Food as Health Program
At UK HealthCare, we believe food is more than fuel – it’s medicine. Our Food as Health team helps Kentuckians use nutrition to prevent disease, recover faster and live well.
We connect patients and families with healthy food programs and nutrition counseling services. These offerings are convenient, affordable and designed to fit everyday life.
Food programs
We work with trusted partners to make nutritious food easier to access. Our partners include Kroger, Instacart, Mom’s Meals, Dare to Care, Food Chain and Walmart.
Our offerings include:
- Medically tailored meals: Prepared meals for people managing chronic conditions delivered to participant doors
- Grocery Rx: Online or in-store healthy benefits cards that make it easier to buy food tailored for preferences, dietary needs and lifestyle choices
- Meal kits: Simple, balanced recipes with premeasured ingredients for individuals who want to prepare food at home without the guesswork of what to make
Referral and enrollment services
The Food as Health Program is a referral hub. We connect healthcare providers, managed-care teams and patients to our nutrition programs. Patients can be referred by their doctor or care manager, or they can self-enroll with help from our team.
Tracking and evaluation
We measure the impact of every program so that we can improve health outcomes statewide. Our team tracks patient progress, including food and nutrition security, dietary intake and overall well-being for up to one year after enrollment.
About the Food as Health Alliance
The Food as Health Alliance, located in the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, brings together experts in health care, nutrition and agriculture. These experts work to address food and nutrition insecurity, improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs in Kentucky.
On the Food as Health website, you will find:
- Healthy recipes, cooking videos and nutrition resources
- Research projects and culinary-medicine classes
- Volunteer and donation opportunities that make a difference
Our team
Alison Gustafson, PhD, MPH, RD, Director, Food as Health Program at UKHealthcare
Dr. Gustafson is the founder and director of the Food as Health program, which aims to improve clinical outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and prove to be cost-effective for all clients. Dr. Gustafson has been the principal investigator or co-investigator on over $14 million in grant funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) related to interventions targeting food insecurity and subsequent health outcomes. Recently, she has received two American Heart Association and Humana Foundation grants to improve the infrastructure in Kentucky for “food is medicine” program delivery and evaluation. As director, she leads the Food as Health program, which provides the service of delivering tailored “food is medicine” programs across a variety of clients, including Medicaid, healthcare providers and commercial insurance.
Christa Mayfield, MS, Social Needs Coordinator
Christa Mayfield, MS, has her Master of Science in Agriculture, Food & Environment from Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy. Her work has focused on improving food and nutrition security through access to federal food programs and building strong community networks. Christa supports the Food as Health program through management of all day-to-day operations and oversees key delivery of the entire system.
Julie Brown, Food as Health Coordinator
Julie Brown serves as a coordinator for the Food as Health Program at UK HealthCare. Her roots in Southeastern Kentucky provide a personal connection to the Food as Health mission, fueling her passion to support her home region. A nationally board-certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC) and health promotion professional, Julie resides in Lexington with her husband and two sons.
Marissa (Marci) Frick, LSW, Food as Health Coordinator
Marci Frick has dedicated her life to serving others and advocating for those in need. She has worked throughout Central and Southern Ohio as a licensed social worker, working with those struggling with their health and basic daily living needs, including food insecurity. Most recently, she has worked with the UK College of Nursing in cardiovascular research in rural communities. She is excited to join the Food as Health program to learn more about how to better serve the Commonwealth.