Park Nicollet physicians write Rx for fruits and vegetables

Rx is redeemable for $10 at Cub Foods

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — Aug. 13, 2014 — Beginning Friday, Aug. 15, all children who visit Park Nicollet’s St. Louis Park Clinic for a physical or to get immunizations will not only get a check-up and preventive care, they will also receive a $10 voucher to buy fruit and vegetables at Cub Foods stores in the Twin Cities metro area.

“Providing this voucher to families in a medical setting sends a powerful message that to be in the best health, everyone should eat five fruits and vegetables every day,” said Tonya Bryan, MD, a Park Nicollet pediatrician. “It gives physicians a tool to talk to families about making better-for-you food choices and it may reach families who would not otherwise choose fresh fruits and vegetables.”

The program, which runs through October, is based on research linking consumption of fruits and vegetables to improved health. The 2013 Minnesota Student Survey found that a majority of 5th graders (6 out of 10) in the Twin Cities metro area eat fruit only once a day or less. Three out of four 5th graders eat vegetables once a day or less.

“Cub is committed to providing fresh, high-quality produce and we’re very excited by the opportunity to help more kids get access to these healthy foods,” said Cub president Mike Stigers. “We want to thank Park Nicollet for this chance to work together on this important initiative.”

The voucher give-away expands other programs by HealthPartners to promote consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially among children when life-long health habits are often established. In a pilot project at HealthPartners White Bear Lake Clinic and the Hugo Clinic which is a partnership between HealthPartners and Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, doctors write prescriptions for fruit and vegetables to children ages 5 to 12. The prescriptions are redeemable for $10 at five area Festival Foods, Kowalski’s and Cub grocery stores.

In addition, HealthPartners yumPower, BearPower and PowerUp School Challenges provide a fun program that includes tracking how many fruits and vegetables kids eat. Last year, nearly 20,000 kids at 57 schools participated in the program. A study by HealthPartners Institute for Research and Education found that consumption of fruits and vegetables increased by 6 – 10 percent among children who participated in the School Challenges.

An estimated 3,500 families are expected to get an Rx for veggies. The initiative is funded through a grant from the Park Nicollet Foundation.

“Partnering to build healthy lives is our mission/vision and providing fruit and veggie vouchers with a trusted business partner, Cub, is a win-win all around,” said Christa Getchell, president of the Park Nicollet Foundation.