Nutrition Program

Our Nutrition Program works on multiple levels with a diverse audience by introducing new healthful foods, providing nutrition information, offering samples and recipes for nutritious dishes, and providing guidance for meal planning and smart shopping.

Astonishingly, more than 40% of those we serve are children under the age of 18. These children are in a critical stage of cognitive and behavioral development, and adequate nutrition is vital to helping them develop in healthy ways. Improving child nutrition has long-lasting effects, supporting children well into adulthood. Prioritizing nutrition helps our kids, their families and our communities.

The USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides funding for our Nutrition Education Program staff members who work within the Food Bank to promote healthier eating options for clients. You’ll hear them referred to as the SNAP-Ed Team. Team members educate customers on how to shop for and prepare healthy dishes by providing recipes, conducting food demonstrations, and sharing tips on how to stretch their food dollars. The SNAP-Ed team also engages with agency partners to conduct nutrition education classes and to promote wellness activities throughout the community.

Sometimes we have a lot of a particular food item we’d like folks to enjoy. Or maybe it’s an unusual vegetable that not everyone will recognize or know how to prepare. Providing a delicious recipe is a great way to encourage folks to try something new while clearing the shelves to make way for the next surprise!