Last week Congress made a decision to cut food assistance to millions of needy Americans. Shame on them. This will put more people at risk for serious health issues due to a poor diet. Food pantries are bracing themselves for an increase in demand for their services.
How can you help? Here is a list of ten items that are the most useful and needed at local food pantries. Change the way you think about making food donations to food pantries. Think about QUALITY and NOT quantity. Those of us who work in the area of food security, see a need for healthy food that provides real nutrition rather than bulk foods that might satisfy hunger yet not provide any nutritional value. Empty calorie foods also can cause other health problems "down the road."
This is a list of "healthy and much needed items" that you can donate to a local food pantry that will go a long way in providng a nutricious meal to a person in need.
If you would like to find a local food pantry in your Dane County, call the United Way's 211. Volunteer operators have a complete list of food pantries in Dane County.
How can you help? Here is a list of ten items that are the most useful and needed at local food pantries. Change the way you think about making food donations to food pantries. Think about QUALITY and NOT quantity. Those of us who work in the area of food security, see a need for healthy food that provides real nutrition rather than bulk foods that might satisfy hunger yet not provide any nutritional value. Empty calorie foods also can cause other health problems "down the road."
This is a list of "healthy and much needed items" that you can donate to a local food pantry that will go a long way in providng a nutricious meal to a person in need.
- Peanut or other nut butters (good source of protien and does not have to be cooked)
- Fresh fruits (fresh fruit offers lots of crucial vitamins and minerals to the diet. Think of donating a bag of oranges or apples or how about both? Moms use them in lunches or healthy snacks)
- Fresh locally sourced veggies from your garden or local markets! (This is harder, obviously, in the winter months. The local grocery store will have something reasonable. Make it green.)
- Canned or preserved tomatoe sauces, spaghetti sauces or diced or stewed tomatoes (these sauces help stretch meals to serve more members of the family.)
- Powdered milk (families often use powdered milk to stretch the milk and dairy budget. Also, they use the powdered version for recipes that call for milk.)
- Eggs! (Food pantries often divide cartons of eggs in half)
- Cooking oils or healthy oils, like olive oils or healthy blends (Our bodies need three basic things, 1. protien, 2. Carbs, 3. Fats. Our bodies need healthy fats)
- Sardines of other canned fish, other than tuna (Tuna is rather controversial, but sardines, salmon and other fish packed in oil can be an excellent source of healthy fats and protien.)
- Cooked cereals, like oatmeal and grits (oatmeal served with dried fruit and walnuts is one of the healthiest and hardiest meals for any child or individual)
- Dried fruits, nuts and healthy snack bars round out the list. (Think about dried cranberries, walnuts or healthy granola bars)
If you would like to find a local food pantry in your Dane County, call the United Way's 211. Volunteer operators have a complete list of food pantries in Dane County.