BodiMojo Teen Health Blog – Teenage Nutrition, Fitness, Stress, Relationships & More

At BodiMojo we’re always interested in national stories about new and unique ways communities are helping to fight against obesity. This week, a great story comes from our own backyard.

Doctors at three Massachusetts health care centers have started writing “prescriptions” for fresh produce from local farmers markets. The “prescriptions” handed out will be good for $1 per family member at the farmers market. This new initiative will help families increase their fresh fruit and vegetable intake, cut down on junk food consumption, and hopefully decrease obesity over time with these healthy new habits. The main goal is to get kids to increase their fruits and veggies by one serving a day.

This pilot program seeks to enroll 50 families in the produce prescriptions program at three health centers, all part of the Massachusetts Healthy Weight Initiative program.

One really cool result of this program is that kids and families will be exposed to new types of fruits and veggies. Local farmers grow all kinds of foods you may have never seen in the grocery store. Have you tasted bok choy? What does a sugar snap pea look like? What does a red currant taste like? I think it would be a fun adventure to learn about new and exotic foods grown right in my own state.

Another great “side effect” of the produce prescriptions is the participation in our local economy by buying directly from Massachusetts based farmers. While eating healthy and fresh food instead of junk food is the objective, it is always optimal to buy from local farmers when you can. Buying locally ensures freshness, taste, and, if you’re into being a green teen, reduces your carbon footprint!

One risk, of course, is what happens when the farmers markets end in late October. No fear though: the purpose of starting this initiative in the midst of farmers market season is to start healthy eating habits that will hopefully become routine by the winter months. I think the most important aspect of the program is not where Bay State residents get their produce but that they have the support from their communities to embrace new healthy options. Plus, local partners are looking to team with grocery stores to continue this program year round.

Tell us what you think – leave a comment. We’d love to know your opinion on this prescriptive step to fight obesity.