Increase access to healthy eating

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

What we eat plays a big part in our health. But healthy eating isn’t always easy.

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to eat healthy 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.

With the cost of healthy food soaring and many families struggling to make ends meet, hunger and food insecurity are on the rise. According to Pew Research Center, roughly seven in 10 Americans say the rising cost of healthy food in recent years makes it increasingly difficult to eat healthy. More people are having to choose unhealthy and highly processed foods to feed their families. Community-led efforts that increase access to healthy foods are vital to improving health outcomes and addressing diet-related illnesses.

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.

Over the past five years, Blue Cross invested more than $12.5 million to increase access to healthy and affordable foods for communities across Minnesota. Most of our investments directly impact those experiencing the greatest barriers to good health.

Our funding supports:

• Increasing affordability and accessibility of healthy foods in all Minnesota communities
• Developing food skills such as growing, harvesting and preparing healthy foods
• Expanding access to culturally based foods
• Promoting statewide and local food-access policies
• Ensuring a variety of healthy foods are more available — and unhealthy foods are less available — in places where we work, live, learn and play

Key partners:

• Nonprofits
• Food shelves and food banks
• Minnesota Tribal nations
• Community centers
• Community leaders
• Schools and childcare centers

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:

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. The purpose is ensuring all students are supported in achieving their academic potential, have access to nutritious options, and don’t experience any stigma associated with receiving free school meals.

FARM-TO-SCHOOL: Farm-to-School and Farm-to-Early Care programs provide children with access to fresh, healthy food, while supporting local farmers in their communities. Aimed at encouraging healthy eating habits and educating children on how food is grown, Farm-to-Early Care programs have the potential to make a lasting impact on the diets of young children, reducing their lifetime risk of diet-related disease and contributing to positive health outcomes. 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: The goal of the Minnesota Food Charter is to create healthier food environments across Minnesota by addressing the barriers that prevent people from accessing nutritious food. The Charter is a strategic guide for decision-makers, community leaders, businesses and residents to shape a food system that promotes health, economic vitality and environmental sustainability. Blue Cross was a co-creator and primary funder of the Minnesota Food Charter.

COMMUNITY VOICE FUNDING INITIATIVE: The Community Voice Funding Initiative supported community-led organizations advancing food security and helped community members overcome barriers to healthy eating.

Learn more about our current efforts.