Importance of Accessible Healthy Foods

Food insecurity is a problem in this country, but unfortunately the solution isn’t a simple answer. In general, when asked to participate in a food drive or donate to a local food pantry, many people will gladly fork over a few dollars for some canned and boxed food. The problem then, is not the willingness to give, but rather, the awareness of WHAT we are giving. Sure some boxed cookies will fill the empty stomach of a child for a few hours, but what is that box of cookies really doing for that child? What about in ten years when that child, whose family relied on donations of low cost, high sugar foods to put food on the table, has type two diabetes?

Donate Non-perishables Items

NON-PERISHABLES FOOD DONATIONS
While fresh foods are an important but non-perishables items are a vital resource. We suggest you select shelf-stable food with the lowest saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, please consider three things: nutrition, usefulness, and quality vs. quantity.

1. Nutrition
It is very important to provide people with the healthiest food possible. Here are some suggestions for each of the categories:

• Canned meat/fish
• Peanut butter
• Bags or boxes of pasta/rice
• Pasta sauce
• Canned fruit/vegetables
• Cereal