Fresh, healthy food.

25 million + pounds of produce distributed annually.

Mid-Ohio Farmacy is a partnership between the Mid-Ohio foodbank and local healthcare providers that links patients to the healthy foods needed to manage and improve health. We do this by providing weekly access to fresh produce at participating locations. By enrolling in Farmacy through your healthcare provider, patients have access to weekly produce for their households

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  • Health Insurance
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • Cancer Prevention
  • Other Healthy Choices
  • Healthy Recipes
Health Insurance 101
Health insurance helps you pay for your health care. CLICK on the links to learn more about health insurance in Ohio.

Types of Insurance Plans

There are several types of insurance plans available. Please click below to learn about different kinds of insurance plans.

To find out if you are eligible for Medicaid, click here

If you need help enrolling in Medicaid, please contact a SNAP Outreach Team Member at Mid-Ohio Food Collective and they can help you apply here

Finding a Doctor
It is important to have a regular doctor or other healthcare provider to help you manage your health. Please visit the following website to find a regular doctor that is covered by your Medicaid insurance plan.

View OhioMH

If you have private health insurance and need help finding a doctor, please call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and they will help connect you to a doctor.

What is Diabetes

It is important to understand the basics of diabetes whether you were just diagnosed or have had diabetes for many years. Please click below to learn more about diabetes

Watch Video here

Understanding blood sugar, also called BLOOD GLUCOSE
When you eat, food is broken down into very small pieces and absorbed into your blood. Some food is turned into sugar, and is known as BLOOD GLUCOSE. Your blood glucose goes up and down all through the day and night. Please click on the following pamphlets to understand more about blood glucose.

Watch Video here

Checking blood glucose

When you have diabetes, it is very important to know your blood glucose levels. You can do this using a glucose meter. Please click below to learn how to check your blood glucose.

Watch Video here

Taking diabetes medicines
It is important to follow your doctor’s directions when taking your diabetes medicine. Please click below to learn more about managing your medicine.

Healthy Eating

Following a healthy diet is one of the most important things to have good blood glucose levels. The PLATE METHOD is one way to help you eat the right foods and the right amount of foods. Please click below for an example plate, and use these steps:

  • 01
    Fill half of your plate with NON-STARCHY VEGETABLES. These vegetables are low in carbohydrates and have lots of vitamins and minerals.
  • 02
    Fill one quarter of your plate with CARBOHYDRATE foods. Carbohydrates are an important part of your diet, but it is important to eat the right amount and kind of carbohydrate.
  • 03
    Fill one quarter of your plate with PROTEIN foods. Protein helps make new cells. It is important to choose protein foods that do not have a lot of fat.
Snacks
Snacks are an important part of a healthy diet. They also help keep blood glucose levels from going too low between meals. Here are some ideas for healthy snacks

Grocery Shopping
Getting food from a food pantry or grocery store can seem overwhelming. Use the following shopping list to help stock your fridge and pantry. Many of these foods can be found at your nearest Mid-Ohio Farmacy Location.

Diabetes Education – Type 2 Diabetes
It takes time to learn how to manage type 2 diabetes. Be patient with yourself. If you are ready for a next step, please click on the link below for some diabetes education for beginners.

Myths About Diabetes
There can be a lot of confusing information out there about diabetes. Please click below to learn more about diabetes myths

Heart Disease 101

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for Americans. BUT – You CAN make changes for a healthier heart!

Mid-Ohio Farmacy focuses on healthy eating. There are three main things you can change about the food you eat for a healthier heart:

01
Choose healthier foods
02
Eat less sodium (Controlling Blood Pressure)
03
Eat healthier fats (Controlling Cholesterol)
Emergency Medical Care

Get emergency medical care (call 911) if you have any of these heart disease symptoms:

01
Chest pain
02
Shortness of breath
03
Fainting
Kinds of Heart Disease
‘Heart disease’ is a word that explains a few different conditions that affect the heart. Below is a list of different kinds of heart disease (adapted from Mayo Clinic)

Cardiovascular disease – Heart disease in your blood vessels. Includes:

  • 01
    Coronary artery disease – disease in the blood vessels of your heart
  • 02
    Peripheral vascular disease – disease in the blood vessels of your legs, stomach, arms and head
Heart arrhythmia – Heart disease caused by abnormal heartbeats
Congenital heart defect – Heart disease caused by heart defects you are born with
Cardiomyopathy – Heart disease caused by weak heart muscle
Endocarditis – Heart disease caused by heart infections
Valvular heart disease – Heart disease caused by damaged heart valves

Another key word to know:

Atherosclerosis – When plaque (fatty deposits) clogs your arteries
Heart disease is easier to treat when caught early. Talk to your doctor or other ealthcare provider about your heart health.
All-Around Healthier Eating

A healthier heart starts with choosing healthy foods. Mid-Ohio Farmacy provides weekly access to fresh fruits and vegetables, part of a heart healthy diet. There are many other healthy foods available at food pantries. Check out the shopping list below to begin building a healthier diet!

Blood Pressure

Controlling blood pressure is important for a healthy heart. Click below to learn more about blood pressure.

Knowing your blood pressure measurement is key to control. Please click below to learn how to measure your blood pressure.

Sodium

Sodium and salt – what’s the difference? Some people use these words like they are the same thing. But – sodium and salt are actually a little different. Sodium is a mineral in salt. A lot of the sodium in our foods comes from salt (sodium chloride). Sodium is also found in other ingredients, and too much of it can be unhealthy.

What does eating too much sodium do?

Eating too much sodium can make you more likely to have high blood pressure. Too much sodium can also impact your health in other ways. Please click below to learn more about the effects of eating too much sodium.

Eating less sodium – The ‘Salty Six’

There are six foods that add a lot of sodium to your diet. To start eating less sodium, start by focusing on these six foods. Click here to learn more about ‘The Salty Six’

Here is a three week action plan to eat less sodium, focusing on ‘The Salty Six’

Cholesterol

You may have heard the word cholesterol from your doctor, or maybe from a family member, or on social media. Controlling cholesterol is key to having a healthy heart. But what is cholesterol? Click below to find out more.

Healthy fats

Fat is an important part of our diet. There are three different kinds of fat – saturated fat, unsaturated fat and trans fat. Please click below to learn more about how the different kinds of fat affect cholesterol.

Diabetes and Heart Disease go hand in hand
Having diabetes also increases risk of heart disease. You can help reduce your risk for heart disease by knowing and controlling your ABC’s:
A = A 1 C
B = Blood Pressure
C = Cholesterol
Please click below to learn more about diabetes, heart disease and your ABC’s.

Cancer Prevention 101
The food you eat can make a big difference for cancer prevention! Many of the diet suggestions for diabetes and heart disease are also the same for cancer prevention. Many of these foods, especially fruits and vegetables, are available as a part of Mid-Ohio Farmacy. Suggestions from other healthy choices are also important.

Below are 10 things you CAN do to help prevent cancer! (From American Institute for Cancer Research)

01
Eat a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans
02
Limit consumption of red and processed meat
03
Limit consumption of fast foods and other processed foods high in fat, starches or sugars
04
Limit alcohol consumption
05
Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks
06
Be a healthy weight
07
Be physically active
08
For mothers: breastfeed your baby, if you can
09
Do not use supplements for cancer prevention
10
After a cancer diagnosis: follow your doctor’s recommendations about what is right for you

 

Click here for a printable list of these recommendations.

Quit Smoking
If you are ready to quit smoking:

Call the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line: Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for help

Visit here to enroll in the national quit smoking texting program

Get Active

Physical activity, or exercise, helps lower blood glucose, is great for your heart and your overall health! Talk with your doctor before starting any physical activity program. Click here for some physical activity ideas you can do at home:

Reduce Stress

Stress can have a big impact on health.

When we are under stress, our bodies make hormones that can cause blood glucose to go up. This can make it harder to control blood glucose.

Stress can also make blood pressure go up for periods of short time. Lots of spikes in blood pressure over time can damage your blood vessels, heart and kidneys.

It is important to learn how to deal with stress. Please click below for some ideas on how to reduce stress:

Take Care of your Mental Health

It is OK to take care of your mental health. Your brain is an organ just like your heart or your kidneys. Take time to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your mental health.

If you do not have a doctor and need help with mental health, please call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). They will help you find a confidential referral to mental health/substance abuse treatment service in your area.

Healthy Recipes 101

Making changes to what you eat can take some time. Be patient with yourself. Below are some tips and easy, healthy recipes you can prepare from many of the foods available through Mid-Ohio Farmacy:

For more easy recipes, please click here

How Do I Join?

There are a number of participating health providers who can make a referral for the Mid-Ohio Farmacy program. If your provider is a participant (check here), ask if you qualify for Mid-Ohio Farmacy at your next office visit, and start using your Mid-Ohio Farmacy benefits to get fresh food right away.