Food for Health

At the start of the pandemic, Food Bank of the Rockies was contacted by a home healthcare provider that wanted to bring food to people needing in-home care and who required nutritional support. In 2022, Lutheran Medical Center contacted Food Bank of the Rockies seeking food to fulfill interventions that came from new social determinants of health screenings per the state of Colorado’s Hospital Transformation Program. Food Bank of the Rockies recognized this was a community need and sought out other hospitals and clinics helping low-income families in need of food to improve their health.

• Whole grains: rice, cereal, pasta, oats
• Low-fat milk
• Canned fruits (no sugar added)
• Canned vegetables (low sodium)
• Canned tuna and shelf-stable chicken
• Herbs and/or spices
• Nutrient-dense snacks like sunflower seeds, almonds, and dried fruit
• 5 lb. bag of fresh produce

All boxes are intended to accommodate a heart-healthy and diabetic-friendly diet and contain fiber-rich, low-sodium items and fresh produce, along with recipes to support nutrition education. 

Food for Health boxes are tailored to support a nutrient-dense, heart-healthy, and diabetes-friendly eating pattern inspired by the USDA MyPlate guidelines. A combination of fruits, starchy and non-starchy vegetables, lean animal and plant-based protein, grains, and dairy are provided in every box.

We strive to provide fiber-rich, low-sodium, and no-sugar-added items as much as possible. A variety of fresh produce, dried herbs and spices, and recipes are included throughout the program to support diverse flavor preferences and cooking styles. By providing mostly whole, unseasoned foods, our intention is to provide flexibility for the creation of culturally relevant meals and snacks by each participant.  

The healthcare partner sites were chosen based on a growing need with an interest in the program to expand services for those who’ve been affected by food insecurity. We joined forces to help our neighbors increase access to nutritious foods as well as reduce hospital admission rates and improve health outcomes.

We are pursuing this goal by partnering with a variety of healthcare organizations who serve under-represented and vulnerable populations to provide additional services where nutritious foods may be unavailable. Food Bank of the Rockies partners with Clinica Colorado, which serves the Latino population, and Denver Indian Health and Family Services, which serves Native American and Indigenous American communities. Some organizations like Denver Health have identified barriers to food access in their patients and have been working over the last few years to close that gap via food insecurity screenings. In late 2024, the Food for Health Program expanded to the Western Slope with Family Health West in Fruita signing on as a partner.

Representation of diverse groups shifts our understanding for what kind of support is needed, which allows us to take immediate action. This gives us the opportunity to extend services across the Denver metro area and the Western Slope to anyone who may benefit from supplemental food assistance.  

The four health conditions Food for Health focuses on are heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Colorado; diabetes is the tenth-leading cause of death. Both conditions are related to or worsened by high blood pressure and early signs of insulin resistance, or pre-diabetes. We focus on these four intertwined, diet-related illnesses in pursuit of improved health outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with food insecurity.

By increasing access to nutritious food, building nutrition and culinary skills, and providing resources to address other social determinants of health, we strive to support program participants in their journey to better health.