Meals insecurity and wholesome meals are two sides of the identical coin which are usually mentioned although very completely different lenses. The meals financial institution staples that come to thoughts when most consider preventing meals insecurity are issues like pasta and tuna fish whereas ‘wholesome’ meals might evoke visions of leafy greens and fruit salads.
A balanced weight-reduction plan in all probability contains all of those meals and lies someplace between the 2 ends of the spectrum. The truth that a spectrum exists in our minds and persists in so many starvation prevention applications is one thing Mid Coast Starvation Prevention Program and lots of others in the neighborhood are engaged on remedying.
At Mid Coast Starvation Prevention Program, merging entry and well being is a core a part of our mission and one thing we try towards every day. We accomplice with space farms to glean or buy contemporary and in-season produce, we provide low-sodium, sugar-free, and gluten-free choices in our Pantry to Pantry program, host pop-up produce distribution occasions at a lot of our faculty pantry areas, incorporate contemporary substances into our soup kitchen meals every day, and extra.
We all know that small adjustments can result in huge well being good points when maintained over time and we work to supply program individuals with what they want to make sure that present meals insecurity doesn’t result in long-term well being challenges.
None of this work might be accomplished alone. Together with our efforts to get folks entry to nutritious choices, many others in the neighborhood are engaged on merging meals and well being for people and households experiencing meals or vitamin insecurity.
Good Shepherd Meals Financial institution launched www.NutritionForME.org in early 2022, a web site that helps folks discover wholesome and easy recipes utilizing frequent family staples. In our Neighborhood Supply packing containers, Mid Coast Starvation Prevention Program makes use of this web site to supply recipes that characteristic in-season produce included in that month’s supply.
For these struggling who might not have discovered their technique to Mid Coast Starvation Prevention Program or different vitamin safety sources, Starvation Important Indicators, a questionnaire developed by Kids’s HealthWatch is the bridge many want. Pediatricians and Major Care physicians ask easy screening questions throughout preventative care visits and are capable of present sources and referrals to native starvation prevention sources for his or her sufferers. This is a vital step in each lowering stigma of utilizing these companies and enhancing long run well being outcomes for households.
Collectively, all of those assorted efforts are serving to carry meals and well being collectively for Mainers experiencing meals insecurity. There’s extra to be accomplished, however celebrating progress supplies the inspiration and motivation wanted to proceed the work.
Alyssa Schoppee is the event supervisor at Mid Coast Starvation Prevention Program. Giving Voice is a weekly collaboration amongst 4 native non-profit service companies to share info and tales about their work in the neighborhood.
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