Tulsa Nonprofit Helps People With Type 2 Diabetes, Other Health Issues With Food Prescription Program

A Tulsa organization's goal is to show people how food can be used as medicine. FreshRx educates people with Type 2 diabetes and other health issues on how a nutritious diet can change lives.

"Today we have squash and radishes and greens, and we try to have about 10 to 12 different products for them to try," said director Erin Martin. 

Food is not something people often think of as a prescription, but in some cases, FreshRx director Erin Martin, says it can work just as well as medicine.

"We have people calling us from all over the country, all over the world, because we are now being seen as one of the most innovative food-is-medicine interventions and healthcare delivery models in the nation," she said.

Martin says people get referrals or prescriptions for locally grown food, plus they offer cooking and nutrition classes several times a month.

She says they've seen major improvements in people's health since opening three years ago.

"It's really about introducing new fruits and vegetables to them so they don't have to put their own money on the line to try it, and once they like it, they know how to prepare it and they can go find it," Martin said.

Martin is now focused on getting state and federal funds to help them grow. They invited Senator James Lankford to see their operation and see what a difference they're making.

"To think of the difference that food can make in the process and to be able to realize, changing the way you eat, changing the way you practice your own diet and your life skills on it, really makes a significant difference," Lankford said.

He says this makes a huge difference in people's lives and not only helps them with their health but can make a difference for generations to come.

"We have a lot of obesity in the state and we have a lot of unhealthy eating habits in the state, so much of it is just our culture and how we've grown up and for a lot of families, so to be able to break that habit, and what may be a family cycle, we've got to learn top eat better foods, try better foods," he said.