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Education Resources

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Family Nutrition Program (FNP)

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Family Nutrition Program Overview Family Nutrition Program and Food Stamp Nutrition Education Goal “To provide educational programs that increase, within a limited budget, the likelihood of all FS (Food Stamp) recipients making healthy food choices consistent with the most recent dietary advice reflected in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid.” Program Objectives There are 4 core elements that form the basic range of educational categories in Food Stamp Nutrition Education: Dietary Quality: To assist food stamp households to adopt healthy eating and active lifestyles that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid. Shopping Behavior/Food Resource Management: To enhance practices related to thrifty shopping for and preparation of nutritious foods by food stamp households. Food Security: To insure that food stamp households have enough to eat without resorting to emergency food assistance and make sure people eligible for food stamps but not participating are made aware of its benefits and how to apply for them as part of nutrition education activity. Food Safety: To improve food stamp households’ safe handling, preparation and storage of food. For additional information on the program, visit the Food Stamp Nutrition Connection web site at http://www.nal.usda.gov/foodstamp/index.html. Food Stamp Nutrition (FNP) Audience FNP target audience includes food stamp recipients and applicants (people with gross incomes at or below 130% poverty level). With an approved waiver on a project basis, other low-income people could benefit from the FNP program, as long as it is targeted generally to food stamp participants and applicants. Also, at least 50% of a project target audience has a household income at or below 185% poverty level. The other 50% of the audience can be persons of any income levels. “Incarcerated persons” are NOT an FNP audience. Subject Matter – FNP Nutrition Interventions: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the foundation for nutrition education in all FNS nutrition assistance programs. FNP audiences have access to educational lessons; materials on the following topics: nutrition, diet and health, food buying, budgeting; food safety; and gardening. FNP nutrition education activities focus on the following core elements: Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables Physical activity and healthy weight Promotion of a healthy school nutrition environment (through partnership and collaborations) Nutrition education activities conducted in the Food Stamp Office, where the food stamp eligibility assessment is completed FY 2007 Target Audiences:  Commodity Food Distribution Faith-based Organizations Head Start Homeless Shelter LaCHIP Low-income Housing Medicaid School Meal Service WIC – only indirect activities are allowed Blue-Cross Blue-Shield/Smart Bodies Family and Consumer Sciences Agents and Trained Nutrition Educators provide services in 60 parishes.

Posted on: 8/16/2006 9:36:26 AM