In this brief, we assess public perceptions of “Food Is Medicine” (FIM) programs, such as medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, and produce prescriptions. These programs aim to improve health by providing individuals with nutritious food through collaborations between the health care system and community partners. Our analysis draws on data from a nationally representative sample of more than 7,500 nonelderly adults who participated in the Urban Institute’s December 2024 Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey and qualitative follow-up interviews with 20 survey respondents who reported experiencing food insecurity and having diet-sensitive health conditions. We find that despite low awareness, interest in FIM programs is high among adults who are most likely to benefit from them, and access to low-cost or free food and choice of food items are important considerations for participating in an FIM program. By highlighting program characteristics people say they value most, our findings can inform the design of future FIM programming so that it responds effectively to patients’ needs and preferences.

Why This Matters

A significant share of national health care spending pays for the treatment and management of diet-sensitive chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and emerging evidence suggests FIM programs offer a promising strategy for improving health and reducing health care spending. Although policymakers have increasingly supported FIM initiatives through Medicaid, few studies have explored the perspectives and preferences for FIM initiatives among patients and the broader population, which are critical to understand when designing programs aimed at helping people make dietary changes.

What We Found

• Most nonelderly adults who could benefit from FIM programs have not heard about them. About 1 in 6 adults ages 18 to 64 who participated in the survey (17 percent), including about 1 in 5 food-insecure adults with diet-sensitive conditions (21 percent), reported having heard about medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, or food prescription programs.
• Just over half (54 percent) of food-insecure survey respondents with diet-sensitive conditions reported there was a time in the past year when they wanted help getting enough food.
  • Qualitative interview participants cited cost as the main barrier to getting healthy food and following health care providers’ recommendations for changing their diets.
• Adults report high levels of interest in FIM programs. Among survey respondents, just over 6 in 10 adults (63 percent) and more than 8 in 10 food-insecure adults with diet-sensitive conditions (81 percent) reported they would be interested in medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, or a food prescription program if a health care provider recommended the programs for them.
• But not all adults are comfortable discussing food needs with health care providers. Some qualitative interview participants were uncomfortable talking to health care providers because of stigma and perceptions that providers would be unable to help them.
• Access to low-cost or free food and choice of food items are viewed by survey respondents as the most important factors in the design of FIM programs. Roughly 8 in 10 adults, and about 9 in 10 food-insecure adults with diet-sensitive conditions, reported that having a choice of food items and availability of food at low or no cost were important factors in an FIM program.
  • Some qualitative interview participants cited the opportunity to select a greater choice of food items and the ability to shop at multiple locations as reasons they would be more interested in food prescription programs than medically tailored meals and groceries.
• Adults also value programs offering enough food for their families, culturally appropriate foods, easy recipes and other nutritional education resources, and convenient delivery or pickup options.

How We Did It

This analysis draws on data from the December 2024 round of the Urban Institute’s Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, a nationally representative, internet-based survey of adults ages 18 to 64 designed to monitor changes in individual and family well-being as policymakers consider changes to federal safety net programs. The analysis also draws on in-depth, semistructured telephone interviews conducted in March and April 2025 with 20 respondents recruited from the survey sample. We recruited qualitative interview participants from survey respondents who reported that they had ever been diagnosed with at least one of four diet-sensitive chronic health conditions (i.e., diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol) and experienced household food insecurity in the previous year.