Happy National Nutrition Month!
Just as delivering food is central to CFBNJ’s mission of ending hunger in New Jersey, so is promoting healthy lifestyles by providing our neighbors in need with nutritious options. Proper nutrition is vital to our health and wellness. Food insecure children, in particular, may not get the nutrients they need to support their overall health, including brain development, mental health, and physical growth.
CFBNJ’s Nutrition Programs
Last year, we delivered 24 million pounds of fresh produce as part of our initiative to address hunger as a health issue. Looking forward, CFBNJ’s Food Sourcing team is strengthening our partnerships with New Jersey farms and commencing a seafood gleaning program to bring fresh produce and proteins to our neighbors in need. Here are a few ways we work to help our hungry neighbors lead healthy lives on a budget:
NJ SNAP-Ed
Through NJ SNAP-Ed, CFBNJ provides free and engaging nutrition education workshops that help New Jerseyans who are eligible for SNAP choose healthy food on a budget and make physical activity a part of their lives. We have full public playlists available on both Facebook and Youtube. There, you can find previous cooking demonstrations, as well as tips and tricks to stay healthy and active. Additionally, you can catch NJ SNAP-Ed live on Facebook on the third Wednesday of every month at 11 am, where Nutrition Educators and other CFBNJ staff will show you how to create seasonal, healthy meals.
Cooking for a Cause
Our very own CFBNJ chefs share healthy recipes that are quick, easy, and budget-friendly. We have a variety of dishes, from summer cook-out essentials to holiday meals. Check them out and re-create one today!
Child Nutrition Programs
Hungry kids often rely on school meals as their main source of nutrition. CFBNJ has a number of child nutrition programs to fill in gaps for food insecure children, including afterschool Kids Cafe meals, weekend Family Packs, and Summer Food Service Program meals at sites across the state. Meals and supplemental food boxes always include fresh produce for a full and nutritious diet. Our Kids Cafe program also includes a nutrition education component to teach children about the importance of well-balanced diets and staying active.
Partnerships with Medical Centers and Organizations
Our neighbors in need often lack access to healthy and whole foods, which can lead to chronic health problems. As we distribute fresh produce, proteins, and whole grains, we also partner with medical centers and organizations to help people get the medical screenings that they need. In partnerships with Summit Health Cares, the Trinitas Medical Center Care Transitions Program, and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, we offer health screenings, diabetes-friendly foods, medically tailored meals, and nutrition tips to our neighbors.
Healthy Families Farmers Markets and Healthy Pantry Initiative
Through both of these programs, we put fresh produce at the forefront of our work. We work with our community partners to encourage choice of healthy products among their clients and to offer on-site nutrition education, recipes, and food tastings. Through our Healthy Pantry Initiative, we’ve also worked to shift more pantries to a “client choice” model, making healthy options accessible and providing our neighbors with the dignity of being able to choose the foods that are best for their households.
Consider giving a monetary gift to CFBNJ today! Funds allow CFBNJ to seek out more partnerships with supermarkets, distributors, farms, manufacturers, wholesalers, and more; to purchase healthy food options for our neighbors in need; and to continue addressing hunger as a health issue.