Food Stamp Nutrition Education

Next, you will find an assortment of vibrant colors included in the nutritional portion of our garden. The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) spotlighted the new My Pyramid by featuring a rainbow of delicious foods to promote BETTER HEALTH IN YOUR FAMILY --- orange (grains), green (vegetables), red (fruits), blue (milk) and purple (meat and beans) along with increased physical fitness for a healthy lifestyle. Pre-school through senior citizens were also introduced to important lessons on dietary quality (nutrition), food safety and security, and money management skills to stretch the family's food budget.

• Approximately 800 - 1,000 pre-school and elementary students (7 school districts) per month participated in hands-on lessons that increased their knowledge of the new USDA My Pyramid guidelines (www.mypyramid.gov) for eating healthier and being more active in their daily lives.
  
  
• Nutritional information, fact sheets, and recipes were distributed on a monthly basis to 36 residents of the independent living housing unit and 25 at the Peace Meal site in Gibson City.
  
  
• Parents Night Out programs sponsored by Community Resource and Counseling Center (CRCC) in Paxton were presented in Gilman, Paxton and Gibson City. 12 parents learned about "Physical Activity" and "Healthy Snacks on a Budget."
  
  
• Parents Night Out programs sponsored by Head Start were presented to 36 parents at Watseka, Gilman and Paxton. Topics presented were My Pyramid, Low Cost Meals, and What is U of I Extension? along with a Community Action Health Fair at Paxton with 20 in attendance.
  
  
• At the annual Food Handlers Re-Certification course, 30 individuals from area restaurants, schools, grocery and convenient stores and other related outlets learned about various aspects of food safety and renewed their license through the Illinois Department of Health.
  
  
• Four nutritional summer reading programs were presented at the Gilman, Paxton and Watseka Libraries. 60 youth participants learned about Sports Nutrition and how to become more physically active.
  
  
• Informational bulletin boards along with monthly walk-through clinics and nutritional lessons were presented to clientele at the Ford and Iroquois County Family Community Resource Centers (FCRC) in Paxton and Watseka. Handouts and recipe information was also provided to approximately 40 low income individuals and their families each month.
  
  
• Iroquois County Back to School Fair featured a U of I Extension interactive display for 300 children and their families returning back to school in the fall. Nutritious snacks and newsletter handouts were provided during this event.
  
  
• 15 - 20 members of the Gibson Area Diabetes Support group learned about nutritional components related to My Pyramid and diabetes at 2 separate sessions.
  
  
• Sixteen child care providers attended the training program sponsored by the Watseka Child Care Resource Association. Three presentations on the new My Pyramid, children and choking, and healthy snack ideas for young children were included during the training session. Providers were also introduced to new and interactive game ideas.
  
  
• Dining With Diabetes for the Hispanic community was held on 3 Saturday afternoons at the Community Center in Onarga. 40 Hispanic adults were instructed on the basics of what to look for in food labels, how to prepare diabetic foods within the Hispanic culture, and portion sizes. The attendees were actively involved in the preparation and tasting of the diabetic meal each week.
  
  
• 18-20 Hispanic children attending the Gilman Head Start program have learned about grains, vegetables and fruits. Through this newly established connection, the Extension office was invited to set up a display booth for two of their parent nights sponsored by East Central Community Action. 20 parents in attendance at these parent's nights learned about children and choking while receiving general information about U of I Extension resources.
  
  
• Paxton Day Care re-established their educational partnership with the Family Nutrition Program in the Unit. As a result, 32 children ages 2-5 have been introduced to basic nutrition facts through My Pyramid including whole grain popcorn and pumpkin as a vegetable.
  
  
• Forty-three walkers from Ford and Iroquois Counties logged an amazing 6,558.38 miles last summer in answer to the 2nd annual Walk Around Ford and Iroquois County Challenge. This figure represented almost five times around the entire state of Illinois, which is 1,321 miles.
  
  
• 131 Home and Community Education (HCE) members enhanced their family life with lessons on fostering a creative spirit, protecting personal privacy, nutritious family meals, vacation planning, planning for a secure financial future, body smart gardening, tornado safety, and heirloom plants.
  
  
• Monthly newsletters were provided free of charge to 6 Share Food sites, 6 Food Pantries, along with 2,500 age appropriate fact sheets, newsletters, and other resources for parents, classroom teachers, agencies, and senior citizens.