This spring, Nourish is leading two field scans on areas of strong promise to transform how we view food as a key part of Canadian health care. Both reflect on two key strands of food as medicine approaches – food prescribing and integrating Indigenous foodways into health care. Nourish aims to reveal timely insights and grow health care sector leadership to support health equity and reshape preventative health care strategies nationally.
Food Rx
In various global health systems, health care professionals are prescribing healthy food, and several pilots are underway in Canada. With this field scan, we are interested in exploring the potential for food prescribing at scale as a much-needed health strategy that can also contribute to planetary health by diminishing the health care burden over time. Spearheading this field scan is Joshna Maharaj, chef, speaker, author, and social justice activist renowned for her innovative approach to “Take Back the Tray.” With her extensive food systems network and deep understanding of social gastronomy, Maharaj brings a unique perspective to the table in identifying opportunities for applying food as a tool for preventative health care.
Embracing Indigenous Foodways
Nourish is collaborating with Jared Qwustenuxun Williams and Fiona Devereaux of Qwustenuxun Consulting on the field scan of Indigenous foodways being successfully supported in different parts of the country to learn how programs were started, barriers overcome, and future opportunities. Jared Qwustenuxun Williams, a passionate traditional foods chef dedicated to preserving Indigenous culinary practices, and Fiona Devereaux, a dietitian committed to addressing the power imbalances inherent in food systems, bring their invaluable perspectives to help advance this work. Indigenous foodways hold significant promise to promote health equity and wellness. By grounding Traditional Indigenous foods, ways of knowing and being into health care menus, Nourish aims to dismantle the racist and colonial systems that block planetary health solutions and Indigenous Rights.
Both field scans are underway, and Nourish will host two webinars in late June to share key findings. We invite health care professionals, community members, and policymakers interested in leveraging the power of food as medicine to elevate climate action, health equity, and community well-being to join. Save the dates for the field scan result webinars:
Watch the Indigenous Foodways Health Care Field Scan Webinar
Watch the Food Prescribing Health Care Field Scan Webinar