Why is Kansas SNAP-Ed needed?
Nadine Sigle, Family Consumer Science Agent
For the last 12 to 15 years I have focused a great deal of my time on the Family Nutrition Program in the Post Rock District. The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) is funded through SNAP-ED (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education), or the Department of Children and Families (DCF). To receive the funding, we are required to work with families or schools who have limited financial resources.
In the Post Rock District, it may surprise many to know that our schools range from ---- to --- of the students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. Overall, for the five county district, 53% of our students are on free and reduced lunches. The significance of this statistic shows that the majority of our students live in a family where they may not have enough money to buy nutritious food.
The SNAP-ED goal is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles consistent with MyPlate and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
With each FNP program conducted we are to do evaluations and the evaluations are showing that we are making a difference. The percentage of families who eat at least five servings of fruits and veggies a day has increased, families are planning how they are going to spend their food dollars, and families are making meal plans.
To see a complete snap shot of the SNAP-ED or Family Nutrition Program for 2014 I encourage you to check out the annual report located on the Post Rock District website (http://www.postrock.ksu.edu/p.aspx ). Scroll down the page and click on the article “Kansas SNAP-ED 2014 Report.”
If you know of individuals who are struggling to make ends meet, encourage them to sign up for SNAP benefits. You’ll be making a difference in a person’s life.
For the last 12 to 15 years I have focused a great deal of my time on the Family Nutrition Program in the Post Rock District. The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) is funded through SNAP-ED (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education), or the Department of Children and Families (DCF). To receive the funding, we are required to work with families or schools who have limited financial resources.
In the Post Rock District, it may surprise many to know that our schools range from ---- to --- of the students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. Overall, for the five county district, 53% of our students are on free and reduced lunches. The significance of this statistic shows that the majority of our students live in a family where they may not have enough money to buy nutritious food.
The SNAP-ED goal is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles consistent with MyPlate and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
With each FNP program conducted we are to do evaluations and the evaluations are showing that we are making a difference. The percentage of families who eat at least five servings of fruits and veggies a day has increased, families are planning how they are going to spend their food dollars, and families are making meal plans.
To see a complete snap shot of the SNAP-ED or Family Nutrition Program for 2014 I encourage you to check out the annual report located on the Post Rock District website (http://www.postrock.ksu.edu/p.aspx ). Scroll down the page and click on the article “Kansas SNAP-ED 2014 Report.”
If you know of individuals who are struggling to make ends meet, encourage them to sign up for SNAP benefits. You’ll be making a difference in a person’s life.
