Combating Food Insecurity: Addressing Health Beyond an Empty Pantry.

Abstract

Individuals and food-insecure households who rely on food banks have a higher likelihood of chronic health conditions. A study of the Action Family Program at a faith-based community center demonstrated how nurses can impact food bank recipients' health measures through health promotion interventions. Providing healthier food options with the weekly food distribution box, cooking demonstrations, health screenings, and health education resulted in reduced weight, and decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements.