Bridging the Hunger Gap

The Harvard Physicians Task Force on Hunger in America says 20 million Americans are hungry. New Jersey has over 625,000 residents who experience hun-ger regularly. Programs such as SHARE (Self-Help and Resource Exchange) and community food banks provide food supplies and nutrition education to the needy.

Low-income families that rely on food and meal programs have intakes of several nutrients below the recommended dietary allowances and, therefore, may be at health risk. Nutrition education can help decrease this risk by ensuring people eat a variety of foods that are safely stored and prepared. Programs such as SHARE and the food bank help provide the food, while Extension home economists and EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) paraprofessionals can provide nutrition education classes and workshops including: providing menu ideas and recipes, teaching about food labeling requirements, disseminating information on food spoilage, and stretching food dollars.

As an Extension home economist and registered dietitian, I recommend the following for others interested in food assistance programs:

1. Volunteer to review potential food commodity items used in monthly food packages so a balance of protein foods, grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables are included.
2. Provide inservice nutrition education sessions for the host organization managers or site managers and volunteers of food assistance programs. Topics might include: food safety, understanding the U.S. dietary guidelines, reducing the risk for chronic disease with a nutritious diet.
3. Schedule a TV interview on a local station covering the importance of food assistance programs in combating hunger in the United States.
4. Distribute Cooperative Extension publications on food commodity items, food safety, and U.S. dietary guidelines to promote improved food selection and encourage safe food handling.
5. Volunteer your writing expertise and establish a monthly column in a food assistance program newsletter or flier. This reinforces the expertise of the home economist and helps market Extension to thousands of low-income households monthly.

A study reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, July 1990 says:

It is clear that food banks have a role in addressing the nutrition education needs of agencies that serve low-income populations.

Nutrition education classes, workshops, cooking demonstrations, and newsletter articles focusing on healthy eating by reducing fat, salt, and sugar in the diet can be provided by an Extension home economist and EFNEP paraprofessionals. Support for food assistance programs such as SHARE and the food bank, that continue to help America's hungry population bridge the hunger gap, play a major role in helping low-income populations feed themselves and their families.