Food As Medicine

In 2020, Open Hand Atlanta joined forces with The Atlanta Community Food Bank and Grady Health System to launch the innovative Jesse Hill Market to provide access to healthy food and nutrition education.

In 2020, Open Hand Atlanta joined forces with The Atlanta Community Food Bank and Grady Health System to launch the innovative Jesse Hill Market to provide access to healthy food and nutrition education.

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“Open Hand Atlanta has worked alongside Grady Health System and the Atlanta Community Food Bank for decades to help our community address one of key social determinants of health – access to healthy food. So the Food as Medicine project is perfectly aligned with both our collaborative spirit and our ultimate mission. We’re thrilled to provide Grady patients and staff easy access to healthy, delicious, affordable menu options in the café at Jesse Hill Market through our social enterprise brand, Good Measure Meals. And we look forward to working together to finally break the devastating link between food insecurity and poor health in our community.” Matt Pieper, Executive Director, Open Hand Atlanta

What is the Food as Medicine Partnership?

The Food as Medicine Partnership is a collaboration designed to help bridge the critical gap between health and nutrition by ensuring patients and families of Grady Health System, as well as staff and the local community, have access to healthy, affordable foods.. Open Hand Atlanta/Good Measure Meals, Grady Health System, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank formed the partnership in 2017 to bring the vision of a one-stop nutrition center to life on the Grady's downtown Atlanta campus.

Good Measure Meals' Grab 'n Go menu is featured at Jesse Hill Market
JHM features a beautiful teaching kitchen, classroom space and a food pharmacy


This innovative approach to healthcare is elevating the role of nutrition in advancing positive health outcomes -- particularly for underserved populations.

Grady has more than 600,000 outpatient visits each year, and a majority of patients suffer with at least one chronic illness. Poor health is often exacerbated by food insecurity in this population, perpetuating a cycle of chronic illness that contributes to high health care costs and utilization. The Food as Medicine program aims to collaboratively improve access to healthy, affordable food, ultimately improving food security and health outcomes among patients, families and staff.

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