Save money—shop smarter and waste less food
Help picky eaters try new foods
Keep good nutrition simple
Make easy, low-cost meals
Try new meal ideas
Strengthen family relationships
Save time in the store and in the kitchen
The Family Nutrition Program 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 will help families make choices about eating smart and being active. They include information 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 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) and/or all families qualifying for the WIC Program. People can receive home visits or groups can be formed. With groups, only half of those attending need to be at the 185% income level. 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
Participants receive small gifts such as measuring cups, a vegetable brush, and an exercise stretch band. Over the summer a one day pool pass to Nevada’s Fawcett Family Aquatic Center will be available while supplies last.
Call or e-mail Nancy with any questions or to register: 515-382-6551 or nhenry@iastate.edu.
Nancy; Meridith
6/19/2007