Healthy, Safe Meals

Problem:
Local agency personnel provide opportunities for individuals with special needs to become self sufficient. One goal is help individuals learn how to plan and prepare healthy and safe meals. However, the quality of the meal depends on how knowledgeable the staffers are about nutrition and food safety.
 
Response:
The nutrition and health specialist presented a workshop, Healthy Safe Meals, for agency staff. Topics covered meal planning using the Food Guide Pyramid, tips for shopping in the store (including label reading), and food safety. The workshop was presented to 50 staff members and held three times to accommodate the various work schedules. 
 
Impact:
At the end of the workshop participants were asked; “What are you going to try as a result of this program?” The responses below indicate changes that will be made at home as well as on the job.

• Read the labels more thoroughly
• Make sure my daughter & I are getting foods from all the groups
• To prepare menus at home
• Budgeting for shopping better
• Start remembering the rule of 5/20 & try using it when I shop
• Handling food storage
• Planning a menu for the week before grocery shopping  (good handouts)
• Clean out refrigerator
• Eat more fruits & veggies (Nice to have an interactive training)
• Healthier choices & checking out labels
• Try to implement more of the food groups into our everyday diet
• Use the food safety information - 2
• Meal planning using the calendar
• Reading labels - 3
• Pay more attention to dates on food

Contact:
Vera Stokes
Nutrition and Health Field Specialist
875 Tanglefoot Lane
Bettendorf, Iowa 52722
Phone 563/359-7577
Email vstokes@iastate.edu