Increase access to healthy eating

All people should have access to healthy and affordable foods without barriers

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to eat nutritious foods and live their healthiest possible life, and we’re working to make that a reality for all Minnesotans.

Some of the greatest barriers to healthy eating are accessibility, availability, and affordability of healthy food. A lack of full-service grocery stores or a high prevalence of convenience foods creates environments that often result in disproportionate rates of chronic diseases.

Chronic diseases — such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer — are the leading causes of death in the United States and significant contributors to the rising cost of healthcare. Most chronic diseases relate to poor diet, the leading root cause of mortality in our nation. Diet-related illnesses disproportionately impact low-income and underserved communities, where healthy and affordable food is less available.

As food prices rise and families face financial strain, food insecurity is increasing. Many households are forced to rely on less nutritious, highly processed foods. Expanding community-led efforts to improve access to healthy food is essential for better health outcomes and reducing diet-related diseases.

Across Minnesota, Blue Cross is collaborating with community partners, engaging health and food experts, and promoting better policies to ensure that healthy choices, including healthy eating, are possible for all people.

Current initiatives and programs

Eliminating barriers to healthy eating

Food Access Funding Initiative: The Food Access Funding Initiative supports communities working to overcome barriers to good health. Funded projects promote leadership and decision-making by those most impacted by food insecurity. This initiative funds 12 nonprofit organizations located across Minnesota for up to three years.  Funded organizations worked to increase the consumption of healthy foods, advance food security, and increase access to healthy, affordable and culturally relevant foods for Minnesota communities.

Food Sovereignty Funding Initiative: Food Sovereignty Funding supports Tribal Nations to improve community health by increasing access to and consumption of traditional foods. Traditional foods are extremely diverse, but tend to be localized, low-glycemic, and high in wild protein and essential fatty acids. Community-led efforts to reclaim traditional foods are vital to improving health and addressing disproportionately high rates of diet-related illness for Tribal Nations.

Past achievements

Through the years, our commitment to healthy eating has stood strong

We have a long history of working to make healthy eating possible for all communities, especially those facing the greatest barriers to good health in our state. Multiple approaches are needed to support opportunities for healthy eating. By collaborating with communities, engaging health and food experts, and promoting better policies, we can help create a healthier Minnesota, where all residents can choose healthy options.

Our past work includes:

Market Bucks: The Food Group and Blue Cross collaborated to keep healthy food affordable for low-income Minnesotans.

Hunger Free Schools Coalition: Blue Cross is a proud supporter of the Hunger-Free Schools campaign to make school meals free for all students statewide.

Farm-to-School:  As a funder and partner, Blue Cross worked to support local Farm-to-School and Farm-to-Early Care efforts across Minnesota.

Minnesota Food Charter: Blue Cross was a co-creator and funder of the Minnesota Food Charter, which helped to create healthier food environments across Minnesota.

Community Voice Funding Initiative: The Community Voice Funding Initiative supported Minnesota organizations to advance food security and help community members overcome barriers to healthy eating.

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm