- A US study found that a Food is Medicine programme improved food literacy in rural adults with type 2 diabetes who were uninsured.
- Participants showed better scores after classes focused on meal planning, shopping, budgeting and cooking, alongside health coaching and produce support.
- The study also found Hispanic participants had lower food literacy scores before and after the programme, suggesting stronger cultural tailoring may be needed.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior looked at whether food literacy education could help rural adults with type 2 diabetes manage their condition more effectively.
The programme combined practical nutrition teaching with produce prescriptions and health coaching.
It involved 150 adults recruited through four safety net clinics in rural eastern North Carolina.
Participants attended nine group sessions held in community settings.
The classes focused on everyday skills such as planning meals, shopping well, budgeting and preparing healthier food at home.
Researchers measured food literacy before and after the intervention using a validated assessment tool.
Overall, scores improved significantly after the programme.
That suggests people were better equipped to make sense of food choices and use practical skills to support healthier eating.
For people living with diabetes, that matters.
Good diabetes management is not just about knowing which foods are healthier. It is also about being able to plan, shop and cook in real life, often on a tight budget.
The study also highlighted an important gap.
Hispanic participants had significantly lower food literacy scores than White participants both before and after the intervention.
- Ultra-processed foods linked to lower fertility and slower early embryo development
- Ultra-processed foods in preschool years associated with behavioural difficulties
- Early exposure to unhealthy foods leaves lasting brain and feeding changes
The differences were especially noticeable in meal planning, shopping and budgeting.
That does not mean the programme failed.
It means a broadly effective programme may still not work equally well for everyone.
The takeaway is a sensible one.
Food is Medicine schemes may be stronger when they combine produce support with practical education, but they may need better cultural tailoring if they are to reduce, rather than reproduce, existing inequalities.
