Food as Medicine: Advancing Health Management and Dietary Sustainability

Nutrition science has entered a critical phase where food-based interventions are increasingly recognized as integral components of disease prevention, management, and sustainable healthcare. The concept of Food as Medicine has evolved from theory into a structured framework that brings nutritional interventions into clinical and community practice, ranging from medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions to food pharmacy programs. Recent research highlights the efficacy of such interventions in managing chronic diseases, improving health equity, and reducing healthcare costs. However, key questions remain about the scalability of these programs, their long-term sustainability, and the policy and infrastructure needed to support their integration into health care systems.

This Research Topic aims to advance the scientific and practical understanding of Food as Medicine interventions and their role in sustainable health management. Specifically, it will explore how nutritional strategies can prevent and manage chronic diseases while promoting equitable access to healthy, affordable food. It seeks contributions that evaluate the clinical effectiveness, implementation challenges, and socioeconomic implications of integrating food-based care models into existing health frameworks. Furthermore, the Research Topic will encourage critical discussion on how sustainability and equity principles can strengthen the long-term viability of these approaches across diverse populations.

To gather further insights at the intersection of clinical nutrition, sustainability, and public health, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Evidence-based nutritional strategies for disease prevention and chronic care.
• Evaluation of Food as Medicine programs in clinical, community, and health-plan settings.
• Integration of sustainable dietary patterns into healthcare and policy frameworks.
• Addressing barriers such as food insecurity, adherence, and reimbursement models.
• Equity-centered and culturally tailored nutrition interventions.
• Cost-effectiveness and scalability of sustainable dietary programs.
• Policy innovations supporting nutrition-centered healthcare delivery.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Food as Medicine, Chronic Disease Management, Medically Tailored Meals, Health Equity, Produce Prescriptions, Sustainable Dietary Patterns, Nutrition Policy, Cost-Effectiveness

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.