The Idaho Foodbank’s Hunger to Health Strategy (H2H) is focused on the well-being of individuals, along with the health of communities across our state through access to nutritious food and other resources required for good health.
By eating a well-balanced diet, we are able to maintain the energy we need to get through the day and absorb the nutrients our bodies require to help us stay strong and healthy.
Three initiatives makeup our H2H Strategy: Nutrition, Education and Healthy Communities. Through nutrition education and the distribution of predominantly nutrient-rich foods (85%), our goal is to make the healthy choice the easy choice while also taking into account the health of our communities.
People facing hunger are making difficult choices on how to make ends meet – paying for rent, getting the medicine they need, putting gas in the car – and have the food they need. We believe in not just providing food but nutritious food that helps people back on their feet and to the place where they can thrive.
For several years, The Idaho Foodbank has been focused on obtaining more fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution. Greater support from Idaho’s agricultural community and an increase in the number of grocery stores participating in our Food Rescue program has pushed the percentage of donated food considered nutritious to over 80%.
Now, we are working in collaboration with healthcare partners to make it easier for Idahoans who are food insecure and have health issues to get the food they need to promote better health.
Fresh fruits and vegetables can be some of the most expensive items in your grocery cart. This collaborative allows the hunger challenged to have access to this very important food group while stretching their food budget dollar.
Lynn Dill, Food Sourcing Manager, The Idaho Foodbank
Individuals who are food insecure are at higher risk of developing a chronic disease. Many of Idaho’s most common chronic diseases are diet-related including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The right diet can reduce a person’s risk of getting these diseases. Or, if a person has already been diagnosed, help manage it effectively.
Stable access to nutritious food can help the people we serve before the medical bills start stacking up.
Karen Vauk, President and CEO, The Idaho Foodbank
With Spring around the corner, now is the perfect time to clear some space in the yard for a garden or plant herbs in a pot to sit on the windowsill! Whatever you decide to plant in your garden, we hope you can create delicious recipes and stay active!
March is National Nutrition Month®! This year we joined the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Celebrating a World of Flavors. The Idaho Foodbank prioritizes the distribution of nutritious food for meals, the promotion of nutrition education and supports making the healthy choice the easy choice.
February is American Heart Month, so now is a great time to focus on a heart-healthy diet. Foods rich in nutrients aid in maintaining heart health. Choosing whole grains, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and reducing sodium is proven to positively impact heart health.
Hunger is a major factor impacting a person’s health. The Idaho Foodbank’s Hunger to Health Strategy is focused on the well-being of individuals, along with the health of communities across our state, through access to nutritious food and other resources required for good health.
Simple and delicious, these hash brown veggie egg cups baked in a muffin tin are the perfect on-the-go breakfast or snack! Thawed shredded hash browns are mixed with a smidge of butter and a little salt and pepper and then pressed into the bottom of a muffin tin.
Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family like cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage. A one-cup serving of this veggie is chock full of nutrients- vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium to name a few. Broccoli is also an excellent source of fiber, which boasts benefits such as stabilizing blood sugar, supporting heart health, and even reducing the risk of some cancers.
The Idaho Foodbank is now working in collaboration with healthcare partners to make it easier for Idahoans who are food insecure and have health issues to get the food they need to promote better health.
In July of 2016 the Idaho Medical Association, with sponsorship by the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, and support from the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics passed a resolution that recognizes hunger as a social determinant of health. The resolution also acknowledges The Idaho Foodbank as an important healthcare partner. Since this resolution was passed, healthcare professionals across Idaho have been encouraged to include hunger-related questions in patient screenings and offer the pantry referrals to those who need food assistance. This is an important step towards a healthier Idaho.
Participating healthcare organizations such as community clinics include food insecurity questions in their patient screening. If the need for food is indicated, the patient is referred to a local food pantry. Healthcare organizations with the physical space can provide their own food pantry on site.
Download Our Hunger to Health Strategy
Thank You to the Following Organizations
