‘Medically Tailored Meals’ Program Launched for Needy New Yorkers
- The Earth & I Editorial Team
- Aug 21
- 3 min read
Rethink Food’s No-Cost Meals Combat Poor Health and Food Insecurity
Rethink Food, a chef-led nonprofit, is on a mission to transform the intersection of healthcare and nutrition with the launch of its medically tailored meals (MTM) program.
Through partnerships with restaurants, community organizations, and food donors, Rethink Food delivers meals where they’re needed most—revolutionizing not only how communities are fed, but how food can serve as a form of care.
Rooted in the “Food is Medicine” approach, this program delivers nutritious, home-delivered meals crafted by registered dietitians to meet the specific needs of individuals managing chronic illnesses. By integrating nutrition with medical care, the MTM program aims to improve health outcomes, enhance quality of life, and reduce avoidable hospital visits.
Rethink Food’s innovative MTM program, launched in April 2025, offers no-cost, medically tailored meal delivery to eligible Medicaid recipients in New York City, reinforcing the organization’s core belief that everyone deserves access to nutritious food.
"At Rethink Food, we believe nutrition is not a privilege, it’s a prescription for better health. Through our Medically Tailored Meals Program, we are turning food into a tool for healing, dignity, and equity. This isn’t just about meals—it’s about changing the way we care for one another,” says Jordan Correa, Chief Program Officer at Rethink Food.
Who Can Participate in this Program?
To qualify for this meal delivery program, individuals must meet certain eligibility criteria, primarily through their enrollment in Medicaid. Specifically, the program targets individuals who are:
Frequent users of emergency or hospital services
Enrolled in a New York State Health Home with chronic conditions, such as HIV and diabetes, serious mental illness, or multiple chronic illnesses
Managing substance use disorders or developmental disabilities
Pregnant or recently postpartum
Recently released from incarceration with a chronic condition
High-risk children or youth, including those in foster or kinship care
How the Program Works
The MTM program engages eligible Medicaid members with chronic health conditions to identify the most appropriate meal plan for their medical needs. Participants receive fully prepared meals designed by their Registered Dietitian Nutritionist to support the management of their health conditions.
Each meal plan is customized based on the individual’s dietary preferences, lifestyle, and delivery schedule—offering convenient access to options such as vegetarian, low-sodium, diabetic-friendly, and heart-healthy meals. All meals are 100% halal, ensuring inclusive access for a wider range of dietary and cultural needs.
Each eligible member receives a weekly meal box that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meal plans are customizable, with the following options:
3-Day Box: 9 meals per week – ideal for partial support
5-Day Box: 15 meals per week – covers most of the week
7-Day Box: 21 meals per week – provides full coverage
For example, breakfast options may include asparagus frittata with roasted potatoes and a banana; zucchini muffins with yogurt, string cheese, and an orange; turkey bacon frittata with an apple; or pumpkin quiche with a quinoa crust and multigrain bread.
Lunch selections might feature baked Cajun tilapia with green beans and roasted sweet potato, or beef and lentil chili with asparagus and a whole wheat roll.
Dinner options could include baked Parmesan chicken with eggplant caponata and sautéed spinach, or beef fajitas with roasted broccoli and white rice.
By providing meals that enhance diet quality, reduce hospital visits, and lower healthcare costs, Rethink Food is tackling several public health and nutrition challenges through a single service. Additionally, these meals are crafted to support local businesses via partnerships with food providers, while promoting sustainability and community engagement.
The goal is to enable recipients to focus on their recovery without worrying about food insecurity.
Public-Private Partnerships
Funded by the New York State 1115 Waiver, Rethink Food’s MTM program connects healthcare and social services to address the social drivers of health, starting with food insecurity.
The waiver can generate savings through various healthcare reforms, which can be reinvested into the system.
In partnership with leading social care networks—including Public Health Solutions, HEALI, and SOMOS Community Care—Rethink Food ensures that its MTM meals reach those who need them most, where they are. These collaborations strengthen referral pathways, expand access, and make nutrition a powerful tool for healing.
Learn More
For more information about eligibility and how to apply for the Medically Tailored Meals program, visit Rethink Food’s website.
Comments