I had the pleasure last week, learn more about Share our Strength and the good it does for families all around the US. Over the last few year Share our Strength has helped families learn to plan better ways to feed their families and make better choices. During our talk, I learned more about how low income families look at the meal planning process. These facts astounded me:
• 85% of low-income families believe eating healthy is important, yet only half make nutritious meals on a regular basis
• Primary barrier is perceived high cost of healthy foods
o There is potential to help reduce cost concerns by educating families about the nutritional value of frozen and canned fruits and vegetables, while also encouraging people to shop at discount retailers
• 55% of families don’t regularly plan meals before shopping, and 34% don’t use grocery lists
For my family meal planning and going to the store with a list is essential to having a successful healthy meal time. The Share our Strenght progam is teaching low income families how to plan saving time money and allowing for the family to cook healthy and spend time as a family.
Walmart has signed up to help $2.5 million grant to Share Our Strength will help families in cities across the country gain valuable hands-on shopping, cooking and nutrition educational:
• Grant will provide 107,500 Americans with access to Cooking Matters programs
• The grant is part of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s $2 billion commitment through 2015 to help fight hunger in America, and Walmart’s 2011 initiative to provide customers with healthier and more affordable food choices every day
Teaching the skills to make a family successful in the kitchen is so important. Because everyone needs to learn to help themselves and lead to a better life for their families.
The program has many options to assist Low Income Families food Education:
Cooking Matters Program
• Helps families shop and cook healthy meals on a budget, as a part of Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign
• 20-year history of helping families develop and maintain healthier eating habits
• Learn more here
Cooking Matters at the Store Tours
• 1.5 hour session designed to teach four main skills:
1. Buying fruits and vegetables on a budget
2. Comparing unit prices
3. Reading food labels
4. Identifying whole grain foods
• Available at participating Walmart stores
Cooking Matters Six-Week Courses
• Community partners serving low-income families offer six-week Cooking Matters courses to adults, kids and families
• 2-hour sessions meeting once a week are taught by volunteer chef and nutrition educators
• Lessons include meal preparation, grocery shopping, food budgeting and nutrition
Cooking Matters Class Teachings
· Top Shopping Techniques
o Tips for food budgeting and meal planning
o Comparing unit prices
o Saving on fruits and vegetables
o Challenge: Feed a family of four with just $10
· Key Nutrition Concepts
o Reading the nutrition facts panel
o Finding whole grain foods
o Fresh, frozen or canned?
· 10 Tips to Better Family Meals
1. Set realistic goals
2. Plan when you’ll eat together
3. Be flexible with the time and place
4. Cook it fast on busy nights
5. Get everyone involved
6. Focus on each other
7. Talk about things everyone enjoys
8. Set ground rules
9. Make mealtime a learning time
10. Share the adventure
So what can you do to help. Get involved find out on Lead a Cooking Matters at the Store Tour
How do you sign up for the program?
Cooking Matters courses are offered by a network of community organizations that are serving low-income families. So those partners, like a food bank or pantry, will recruit families from within the area that they are already serving. At this time the general public cannot participate in class or tour. But there are several ways the public can get involved:
· Go to http://www.cookingmatters.org to check out the content. All of the same information that is taught in the program is available on there!
This post was Sponsored by Walmart, Share your Strength and the Motherhood. All the opinions in this post are my own.
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