Are medically tailored meals the real ‘happy meals’ for people with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure

While the concept of "food as medicine" can be traced back thousands of years to the Egyptians, the phrase has gained popularity globally since the 2000s as part of a holistic medical strategy.

The basic idea is that what we eat is closely linked to our health and well-being. Bad food choices can cause or worsen disease, but good dietary changes can improve health outcomes. This is especially important for individuals with chronic conditions that are nutrition sensitive or who have higher weight, as well as those experiencing food insecurity.

A proposed solution gaining traction is the development of medically tailored meals (MTMs) designed for individuals with serious health conditions. The fully prepared, home-delivered meals are prepared under the guidance of a registered dietitian nutritionist for people with diet-sensitive conditions such as diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. These individuals may also have food insecurity and/or activity limitations.

Dr. Wendelin Slusser, associate vice provost for the UCLA Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center and a board-certified pediatrician who specializes in nutrition, Dr. Tannaz Moin, associate professor of medicine and a researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and UCLA graduate Juliet Cushing, who will be a medical student this fall at Harvard, recently called attention to MTMs' health benefits and the need for more studies to better inform policymaking in "Translating 'food is medicine' from concept to reality," which was recently published in Nature Medicine.

We caught up with Slusser and Moin for more insight on the growing, indelible connection between nutrition and health.

Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

What is the "food as medicine" movement? When did it start, where are we now, and where is it headed?

Food as medicine is emerging as an evidence-based clinical strategy to improve the health and well-being of children and adults experiencing higher weight, nutrition-sensitive chronic conditions and food insecurity. Research demonstrates medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries and produce prescriptions can significantly improve clinical outcomes and reduce healthcare utilization. While much of the existing evidence focuses on adults, a growing body of research now supports the integration of food-as-medicine interventions into pediatric care, where early intervention can alter lifelong health trajectories. In addition, programs that combine access to nutritious foods with nutrition education, skill-building and behavior-change support have been shown to strengthen adoption of healthier eating patterns among children and their parents and are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics clinical management guidelines. California is considered one of the more advanced states to support food as medicine through a state benefit program that medical managed care plans can opt into.

Are MTMs new? How are they different from doctors and nutritionists giving meal advice to patients?

MTMs are not new, but interest is growing in this approach. MTMs provide a lot more than advice or guidance that a patient would receive during a health visit. MTMs are home-delivered meals that are professionally tailored to meet health needs, so they directly provide recommended nutrition to patients and also model healthy meal choices in a very tangible way.

Who is setting the standards for what an MTM is? Is there a government agency involved?

MTMs are not FDA-regulated like a prescription medication might be. Government agencies are not necessarily involved, but there have been many pilot tests or studies of MTM programs across the country that include Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries.

How much do they cost? Are MTMs covered by most insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid?

Cost can vary based on the type of food included, how the meal is tailored (personnel time) and ultimately procured (storage, delivery, etc.). MTMs are not yet routinely or widely covered by insurance.

Is the UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative involved with MTMs?

HCI has been leading campus efforts that promote all aspects of health and well-being, and this includes our approach to food and nutrition across UCLA and UC more broadly. We have led food-as-medicine studies, including teaching kitchen trials and working with partners across UC campuses to help expand food-as-medicine approaches.

Should we call MTMs "happy meals"?

The term "happy meal" is a widely known cultural reference meant to positively portray fast-food meals prepared for kids, even though these rarely align with dietary recommendations (e.g., high sodium, processed and generally not a healthy daily dietary staple). Since MTMs are actually nutritious, healthy and tailored to meet food-sensitive health needs, we felt this would be a better fit for the term "happy meal."

What should the general public know about MTMs?

MTMs can help address the health needs of patients with food-sensitive health conditions and improve health outcomes. Studies, including the one mentioned in the recent article in Nature Medicine, are also showing that MTMs can provide healthcare cost savings, so there is growing evidence to support the use of MTMs more broadly. Health providers, systems and insurers should work together to enhance access to MTMs for patients who would most benefit.