Patients want and need healthy, affordable options for fresh vegetables and fruits. Thankfully, there are simple ways to help unhealthy patients who have said they often choose less healthy options because of cost. Women a natural at nurturing, therefore start a conversation around the table and address our current food faults.
One way to help is by building a free community garden for patients, like the one right here at DeLand Foot and Leg Center – Plant to Plate Patient Garden. Here patients can access food and learn new ways to prepare them. Get everyone involved, make it a family investment.
Another way is with a physician-driven RX: Veggies & Fruits Program. To this end, we are working with local vendors and will be able to provide patients, that do not have enough money to purchase healthier food options, a prescription for free or discounted fresh produce/fruits locally. Seven of the “Ten Leading Causes of Death” are linked to poor nutrition, according to the CDC.
ONLY 9.3% of adults meet the daily vegetable intake recommendation.
“On average, Americans consume less fruits/vegetables and more protein. The top two reasons for this: the cost of and lack of access to good quality fruits/vegetables.”
Diabetes and prediabetes is on the rise, but diabetics can significantly reduce their HgA1c, when they eat more fresh vegetables from a community garden.
“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something.”
— The Plant to Plate Team
Why am I doing this? For the last 15+yrs, I have seen patients cycling through their doctors’ offices, and it is pills, pills, pills, tests, surgery, pills. Patients assume they are “healthy” under the control of pills, pills, pills.
Physicians have become an extension of the Drug/Device Companies. This way of thinking needs a reset. Recently, I saw a family member who reported their health as good, telling staff, “Nope, I have no medical problems.” Yet, their medication list was IMPRESSIVE and they were under treatment for: hypertension, elevated cholesterol, Afib, congestive heart failure, renal disease, diabetes, restless leg syndrome, edema, and arthritis.
My colleagues have to understand we have a problem: 7/10 Leading causes of death are nutrition-related.
Getting the Conversation Started:
Fresh is too expensive? We will help to find locations that offer free or discounted veggies & fruits.
Changing eating patterns feels overwhelming – so use a replacement approach. Instead of chicken or fish on a salad use legumes (beans and peas), soy products, and nuts/seeds.
“I don’t have the time to cook healthy meals,” so we will help with simple and basic ways to approach veggies.
Now, do you want to see if your doctor received drug or device company money? CHECK OUT: DOLLARS FOR DOCTORS. You can search by “name” OR put in your “City and State,” then rank by “HOW MUCH,” to find out who is the highest paid in your town.
Remember, “the best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something.”
— The Plant to Plate Team
And so, we built a garden and so can you at your business.
