By Julie Beck
Eat Smart Idaho (ESI) is a University of Idaho sponsored statewide nutrition education program for low-income households, who are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The SNAP-Ed programs in Idaho closely corresponds to county population, with the six most populous counties (Ada, Canyon, Bonneville, Kootenai, Bannock and Twin Falls) claiming the largest number of SNAP recipients. Among the participants, 17.4 percent are Hispanic, 58 percent of households participating have children under the age of 18 years, and 48 percent of all participants are children. Seniors make up about 5 percent of Idaho’s SNAP participants.
Food banks and pantries are located in larger cities in Idaho. A food bank is a larger centrally located facility, which stores many fresh, frozen and shelf stable foods for those residents needing emergency or regular food supply. Food pantries are smaller storage sites for regular deliveries from a food bank or city wide food drive foods. The picture illustrates a nutrition effort to encourage drinking water at a food pantry in Southeastern Idaho.
Community food drives are food donations to refill local food pantries of needed food items. ESI nutrition advisers, throughout the state, are participating in educating the public which healthy foods to include when donating. One local ESI community nutrition adviser, Juliana Martinez, has been busy working in area food banks and pantries. Her efforts include handouts to the general public, organizing pantry shelves and teaching how to rotate foods to keep them food safe.
To learn more about Eat Smart Idaho programs in your city, contact the University of Idaho Extension office nearest you. In southeast Idaho, contact Julie at the number below.
Julie Buck, EdD, MHE, RD, is a registered dietitian, food safety specialist and health educator employed at the University of Idaho Extension, Bannock County. She can be reached at (208)236-7310 or jhbuck@uidaho.edu.