{"aiVersion":"1","content":{"id":"cmntmt4zj0004jsk4wzg402x2","slug":"when-food-becomes-medicine-prescriptions-kitchens--20260411","title":"When Food Becomes Medicine: Prescriptions, Kitchens, and Medical Training","level":"EASY","publishedAt":"2026-04-11T01:03:53.762Z"},"topic":{"slug":"when-food-becomes-medicine-prescriptions-kitchens--20260411","category":"education"},"article":{"paragraphs":["Some doctors use food to help treat patients. In some programs, doctors give prescriptions for fruits and vegetables. Geisinger started the Fresh Food Farmacy in 2016 to give healthy food and diabetes education to patients.","Medical schools are also adding cooking and nutrition lessons for students. UT Southwestern began a culinary medicine program and used the Health Meets Food curriculum in 2015. A nonprofit, the Gaples Institute, has made a nutrition course that is required by several medical schools. Studies of produce prescriptions show mixed results, so doctors and schools keep testing these ideas. Many programs also teach cooking skills and give recipes to patients."],"wordCount":105,"readTime":2},"vocabulary":[{"word":"prescription","example":"The doctor gave a prescription for fruits.","phonetic":"/prɪˈskrɪp.ʃən/","definition":"a written order for medicine or a treatment"},{"word":"produce","example":"She bought fresh produce at the market.","phonetic":"/ˈproʊ.dus/","definition":"fresh fruits and vegetables"},{"word":"culinary","example":"The hospital runs a culinary class for patients.","phonetic":"/ˈkʌl.ɪ.nər.i/","definition":"relating to cooking or the kitchen"}],"quiz":[{"answer":"2016","question":"When did Geisinger start the Fresh Food Farmacy?"},{"answer":"UT Southwestern","question":"Which medical center began a culinary medicine program and used the Health Meets Food curriculum?"},{"answer":"prescriptions for fruits and vegetables","question":"What do doctors give in some programs to help patients buy fruits and vegetables?"}],"discussion":[{"question":"Do you ever try to follow a doctor's food advice? What happened?"},{"question":"Have you ever cooked a meal to help your health? Describe it."},{"question":"What do you think about the idea of doctors talking about cooking with patients?"}]}