Doctors to hand out prescriptions for fruits, vegetables

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TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Doctors at a hospital in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula soon will be handing out prescriptions for fruits and vegetables.

Munson Medical Center in Traverse City got nearly $50,000 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for the "Prescription for Health" program. Participants get a $100 voucher to an area farmers market along with nutrition education.

The program is set to begin this spring. It will target those with chronic issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/1kI7CFi ) that Munson is among several Michigan coalitions that received grants to implement Gov. Rick Snyder's Michigan Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Plan.

Community organization Shape Up North proposed "Prescription for Health." It follows a similar program in Washtenaw County.

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Online:

http://michigan.gov/healthymichigan

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Information from: Traverse City Record-Eagle, http://www.record-eagle.com