Do you want to...
Buy more with your food dollars?
Save time in the store and in the kitchen?
Feed your kids healthier foods?
Make easy, low-cost meals?
Eat better so you feel better?
Be motivated to be more active?
Get free recipes, gifts, and food samples?
If you are a family that wants to learn about healthy food choices, getting more organized about feeding your family, and stretching your food dollars, keep reading… this might be just what you are looking for... ISU Extension offers a Family Nutrition Program. The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) works with low-resource families who want to plan and prepare healthy, low-cost meals for their families. FNP is a program of the ISU Extension Service, here in Story County. The program is completely free! Not all counties are fortunate to have a program like FNP available. FNP uses a new curriculum based on the latest research about food and health, including the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The useful information helps families make choices about eating smart and being active. Information is shared about planning and preparing tasty meals that are not expensive to make, making sure food is safe to eat, how to build strong bones, increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet and much, much more.
People are able to participate if their family income is at or below 185% of the poverty level. This would include all families who qualify for Food Assistance (formerly known as Food Stamps,) families eligible for free or reduced priced lunches, and/or all families qualifying for the WIC Program. People can receive home visits or groups can be formed. Persons enrolled must have children age 0-10, or be pregnant.
The 8 Topics are:
- Get Moving (Balance eating & activity.)
- Plan, Shop and Save
- Vary Your Veggies, Focus on Fruit
- Make Half Your Grains Whole
- Build Strong Bones
- Go Lean With Protein
- Make a Change (Limit fat, sugar, salt.)
- Celebrate Healthy Families
And now there is an optional lesson: Having a Healthy Pregnancy
Participants receive small gifts such as measuring cups, a vegetable brush, and an exercise stretch band.
Additional information is available from Iowa State University's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Web site.
Also, check out the new Spend Smart. Eat Smart website from ISU Extension and learn more about planning, shopping, and preparing for meals!
Ready to get started or simply learn more about the Family Nutrition Program in Story County? Call Nancy Henry at 515-382-6551 or e-mail nhenry@iastate.edu.
Invitation Letter for Families
FNP Flyer