The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Health & Human Services recently released updated dietary guidelines that acknowledge the value of prioritizing high-quality protein, dairy, and fresh fruits and vegetables to address poor health outcomes across the nation. “We know that eating well and eating good food is a critical part of your health journey,” remarked Eddie Oliver, Federation of Virginia Food Banks executive director. “But access has to be part of the conversation when we talk about better health outcomes, because the most nutritious food is often the least affordable.” Each year, millions of Americans experience food insecurity—uncertain access to adequate food due to a lack of financial resources. Food insecurity is associated with higher incidences of chronic disease, and food-insecure individuals typically have higher overall health care costs when compared to food-secure individuals, according to Feeding America. Over 1 million Virginians were food insec...