Our Food Bank nutrition team provides tools for health, wellness
“Health is for all, and health is year-round,” says Molly Burke, from the Food Bank nutrition education team. “We’re interested in helping folks make changes that will last a lifetime.”
The Food Bank’s nutrition education classes provide information on food groups, healthy portion sizes, how to decrease sugar and salt intake and increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and more.
“We talk about how to read food labels so folks can make better choices when using their hard earned dollars at the grocery store,” Burke says. “We also teach strategies for shopping on a budget.”
Cooking demonstrations using groceries available at that week’s pantry help participants get comfortable with unfamiliar produce, such as winter squash and eggplant. For participants without access to full kitchens, cooking demos are adjusted accordingly and focus on meals that can be made in a crockpot or microwave. Healthy prep-ahead family meals or modifying recipes to reduce sodium are also popular topics.
Kids in the Kitchen
In addition to nutrition education for adults, the Food Bank’s classes get kids involved in the kitchen. At a recent lesson, young chefs stuff garbanzo beans inside zip lock bags and use their hands to mash the contents into homemade hummus.
The hummus is served with fresh vegetables the kids may have never experienced before — cucumbers and radishes — along with familiar favorites like carrots and celery.
“We also come up with fun names. Even something as simple as calling it ‘hearty hilarious hummus’ or ‘beautifully bountiful bean dip’ can connect with the kids,” Burke says. “We, as a nutrition education team, work to not only build folks’ confidence around cooking healthy food, but we also try to demystify some healthy products.”
Pathway to Health
A pantry participant named Paul recently shared that the Food Bank helps him stay healthy while he looks for work. An accounting clerk by trade, Paul started attending a food pantry on Tuesdays when he lost his job three months ago.
I am eating better. Now that I’m unemployed, this food is helping a lot,” Paul says. “I’m moving to a healthier diet because I don’t buy usually buy produce. The Food Bank helps because I can take a little less out of my retirement funds — only what I need to pay the rent.”
For a mother named Elizabeth and her teenage daughter, who suffers from an autoimmune disorder, the Food Bank’s focus on nutrition has made a big difference in the family’s health.
“It was very important to boost her immune system. The kale and blueberries and bananas and yogurts provided by the Food Bank put us on a better path,” Elizabeth says.
Written By: Blain Johnson