The MANNA Institute explores the impact of nutrition on health for people with serious illnesses. We lead research and evaluation initiatives, educate healthcare practitioners and consumers, and share findings and best practices for improved service delivery and healthcare transformation.
Core Functions
Evidence
MANNA authored the first peer-reviewed study evaluating the impact of medically appropriate meals. Our continued research will evaluate when food can and should be a part of treatment, and improve access to medical nutrition
Improved, customized services
The Institute will identify best practices by evaluating different program designs and expand upon the 11 diet modifications to serve the needs of specific patient groups. We will help connect more patients to services by developing guidelines for identifying nutritional risk.
The next generation of leaders
Internships will be offered to further the education of students and professionals in nutrition and health-related fields, as well as support the work of MANNA and the Institute
Awareness
Patients with diet-impacted illnesses often leave a doctor’s office with dietary instructions, but too many lack access to medically tailored meals. We’ll work to increase awareness of the available solutions for prescribed diets.
Shared expertise
We will share our research to help further the field of Food is Medicine as well as our own programming, improving the services we have offered for decades.
Empowerment
A key priority for the Institute is outreach to patients and community members about MANNA’s current programs, and to share expertise in medical nutrition for better outcomes