Healthy Living – Healthy Eating

Food is one of the most powerful drivers of health, yet too many Boston neighborhoods are shaped by food deserts and the deeper, systemic inequities of food apartheid – conditions that restrict access to fresh, affordable, and culturally relevant nutrition.

Limited availability to nutritious food fuels higher rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other preventable chronic conditions, underscoring how structural inequities in food access directly shape community health.

At Whittier Street Health Center, we are confronting these structural barriers head-on by offering programs that nourish both body and soul.

Our Food Pantry, now in its eighth year, provides a reliable and accessible source of nutrition. Eligible patients are given a Prescription for Groceries and receive a monthly bag of items from each food group and meet USDA standards. Patients also receive information on nutrition, as well as on neighborhood food banks.

The Whittier Community Garden, created to expand access to fresh produce and strengthen nutrition equity, operates each year from early May through late October. Community members maintain raised beds of vegetables, herbs, and culturally relevant crops, providing fresh produce and a sense of ownership and connection. On Thursdays throughout the growing season, patients are invited to the Garden Club and receive a free bag of freshly harvested produce.

Whittier offers the following food and nutrition services designed to support both the medical and social needs of our patients:

Individual counseling: Registered dieticians offer personalized nutritional assessment and guidance, especially for managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC): Whittier Street Health Center at the Frederica M. Williams Building at 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury has an on-site WIC office. In addition, WIC staff visits our satellite clinic on Blue Hill Avenue twice a week.

Fair Foods $2 Bag Program, providing affordable produce year-round.

Community Garden & Garden Club: distributing free produce weekly during the growing season.

Teaching Kitchen: Registered dieticians have access to our teaching kitchen where they can host cooking classes and demonstrations for patients in our Wellness, Healthy Weight, and Chronic Disease Management programs.

These programs and services not only provide greater access to nutritious food, but also foster community resilience by creating supportive spaces that improve the health and well-being of our patients.

To learn more about our nutrition programs or to schedule a Food Pantry appointment, please call 617-989-3152.