Southern Maine shoppers learn to buy healthy foods on a limited budget
On July 15th, shoppers at the Hannaford Supermarket in Biddeford learned new skills for buying healthy food on a limited budget after taking a tour with Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators from Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition (CHCC), the local Healthy Maine Partnership affiliated with the University of 51小黄车 (UNE). In partnership with the Good Shepherd Food Bank, CHCC coordinated the Cooking Matters at the Store event with the goal of empowering low-income shoppers with the skills needed to stretch their food dollar and serve healthy, affordable meals to their families.
At the Hannaford Supermarket in Biddeford, tour participants visited four stations and learned how to compare unit prices, purchase fruits and vegetables on a budget, read food labels, and identify whole grain options. One participant noted, 鈥渂rown doesn鈥檛 mean healthy or a whole grain.鈥
Participants then put their knowledge to the test with a $10 challenge in which participants buy a healthy meal for a family of four for under $10. In addition to learning new skills, participants were also able to taste healthy, low-cost recipes at each station.
In Maine, Cooking Matters is implemented through a partnership between Maine SNAP-Ed and the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Maine SNAP-Ed is funded by the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and implemented through a contract with UNE鈥檚 School of Community and Population Health. Utilizing the Healthy Maine Partnerships agencies statewide as access points for SNAP-Ed delivery, the program strives to educate Maine SNAP recipients on low-cost, healthy eating and activity lifestyles.