Fruit and Vegetables Prescription Program - FVRx
 

http://wholesomewave.org/wp-content/...m-Overview.pdf

There was an article in today's Daily Sun on page D8. The heading reads, "New York City doctors prescribe fresh fruits, vegetables to low-income patients."

It seems like a good program that's better than prescribing diet pills or other pills. Rather than just treating the symptoms it gets to the root of the problem. It doesn't work in every case but does work about 40 percent of the time to reduce body mass index.

I read the article 3 times 'cause I couldn't believe they were saying $2/week per family member for fresh fruit and produce. What on earth can you get with that?

No way can you feed fresh fruits and veggies on $2/week in New York. You can't even do it here.

$1 per day, per person or $7 per week , per person.
Family of four gets $28 per week.

Still wont cover much fruit and veggies! But I guess it would help!

Not much, but please remember that these people are poor and most likely they are already receiving food stamps. So, they already have money for food. I believe this is simply a plan to get them in the habit of going to the many vebetable markets. Many of the poor (city people) claim that there's no place to get fresh fruit and vegetables, when actually there are numerous vegetable markets. They were not in the habit of buying and eating fresh fruit and vegetables. These prescriptions can only be used at the fruit and vegetable markets and will help to establish a healthier diet. It's a whole new experience for some people.

It's cheaper for the city to give them these free "prescriptions/cupons" than to have them on expensive health care for the rest of their lives. Some of these overweight kids are likely on their way to developing diabetes and this program might turn some of them around. Obviously, the city thinks it's worth it. Other than giving them pills, pills, and more pills, what else can they do?

Like it or not, government always ends up doing for people what the people can't or won't do for themselves. The parents didn't take responsibility so the city steps in, not to be a bossy nanny, but to protect themselves from ever increasing health care costs.

So does that mean they can also use their food stamps at these markets???

I don't think that was explained in the article. If these are small "mom 'n' pop" vegetable markets, they might not take food stamps (plastic cards now). They would have to be set up for it. Most vegetable markets I have been to only take cash.

Walgreen's started a new program last year. Many of their inner city stores now have a small section for fresh fruit and vegetables. Well, they said they were working on it. I don't know exactly how far they have gotten with it. They saw a need and decided to address it.