Table 3.

Action items for dietetics practitioners to support the delivery of food insecurity-informed client care

Ensure food insecurity screening systems are in place if working with at-risk population(s) Use food insecurity screening data to aid critical thinking during the assessment process Be aware of the impact of household food insecurity on client health and ability to implement nutrition and medical treatment plans Include food assistance program referrals, food budgeting education, and cooking skill development as components of interventions, when indicated Maintain a current listing of charitable food programs and eligibility criteria for federal nutrition assistance programs for distribution to clients, when indicated Engage physician-, social worker-, and administrator-stakeholders to explore local food bank-health care collaborations, such as medically-tailored food distributions or mobile produce markets in the healthcare setting Modify goals as needed when monitoring client progress and evaluating outcomes according to changes in client resources and behavior-change capabilities