Healthy Choices – Good for You!

            A program with the focus on providing healthy food choices and nutrition information to our clients is underway at the Pantry under the direction of Katy Galton, a registered dietitian.  The program, funded by a Kraft Foods Employee Grant, provides funds to purchase fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein.  The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating a variety of foods from these groups for better health. 

This program includes nutrition education for our clients which is provided in a variety of ways.  Clients receive information on  the relationship between diet and good health and practical tips on how to incorporate healthy habits in their lifestyle.  Every month new recipes are provided that make use of the items the Pantry distributes that month. 

Another goal of this program is to educate you, our donors, about selecting healthier food choices when shopping on our behalf.  As in the general population, our clients also face health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and weight control. 

 When you make food donations to the Pantry, please try to keep in mind the needs of our clients.   You can help for example, by picking out canned vegetables with no salt added, low- sodium or no-salt added tomatoes, low sodium soups, 100% fruit juice,  fruit that is packed in juice, jams with no added sugar, whole grain pasta, and  whole grain cereals such as shredded wheat,  wheat chex, cheerios, and raisin bran.