By Kristen Schroeder-Brown

Holy Cross Health is taking an innovative approach to diabetes prevention by helping participants improve their health one grocery bag at a time.

Through its Healthy Living Team, Holy Cross Health is expanding the use of Food as Medicine strategies that combine nutrition education with access to healthy foods, giving individuals the tools they need to reduce their risk of chronic disease and build sustainable healthy habits.

The initiative is part of the Community Health & Well-Being (CHWB) Healthy Living Team’s ongoing commitment to addressing diabetes risk through evidence-based interventions. While Food as Medicine programs can include medically tailored meals, produce prescription programs and culinary medicine education, Holy Cross Health has focused on two key strategies: medically tailored groceries and culinary medicine programs.

“Food is one of the most powerful tools for improving health,” said Jennifer Saywer, Registered Dietitian. “By pairing nutrition education with practical access to healthy ingredients, participants are better equipped to make lasting lifestyle changes.”

Medically Tailored Groceries Support Healthy Choices

Unlike traditional food assistance programs, medically tailored groceries are carefully selected by registered dietitians to support specific health goals and chronic disease prevention. These grocery packages feature budget-friendly, nutritious ingredients along with easy-to-follow recipes and live cooking demonstrations designed to help participants confidently prepare healthy meals at home.

To strengthen nutrition lessons taught during its year-long National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), the Healthy Living Team launched the Flavor for Life Bags initiative.

Each Flavor for Life Bag contains a combination of nutrient-dense shelf-stable foods and fresh seasonal produce chosen to align with diabetes prevention session topics. Rather than providing a random assortment of groceries, every item is selected to work together in recipes demonstrated during program sessions, helping participants immediately apply what they learn.

Turning Education into Action

The program’s goal is to bridge the gap between learning about healthy eating and putting those principles into practice. Participants receive ingredients used in class demonstrations, along with guidance from health professionals on meal preparation and healthy cooking techniques.

By reducing financial and practical barriers to accessing nutritious foods, the program helps participants make healthier choices while building confidence in the kitchen. Participants leave with more than groceries. They gain the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to prepare healthy, diabetes-preventive meals for themselves and their families.

Early Results Show Strong Community Impact

The Flavor for Life pilot program provided ongoing support throughout the yearlong lifestyle intervention. Participants received seven medically tailored grocery bags over the course of the program to reinforce healthy eating habits and encourage long-term behavior change.

During the pilot, the Healthy Living Team distributed 106 medically tailored grocery bags, providing participants with healthy foods aligned with National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) session topics. The initiative also incorporated recipe demonstrations and educational activities that helped participants apply nutrition concepts in real-life settings. This combination of education, hands-on cooking experiences and access to healthy ingredients has helped participants overcome common barriers to preparing nutritious meals at home.

“Thank you so much for your great advice and motivation. I have been eating totally different from the moment I joined your program,” said one grateful participant.

As healthcare organizations increasingly recognize the role of nutrition in disease prevention, Holy Cross Health’s Flavor for Life initiative demonstrates how Food as Medicine programs can support healthier lifestyles and improve community well-being. By making nutritious foods more accessible and teaching practical skills for healthy meal preparation, the program is empowering participants to take an active role in preventing diabetes and achieving better long-term health.

National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP)

The NDPP is a year-long lifestyle change program designed to help individuals who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes or who have been diagnosed with Prediabetes.

If you or someone you know may be interested in joining the program at Holy Cross Health, please call (954) 383-9419 to learn more about upcoming classes and enroll.

 Kristen Schroeder-Brown is Healthy Living and Social Care Programs Manager in the Community Health and & Well-Being Department at Holy Cross Health.