University of Minnesota Extension Health and Nutrition is a program of the Center for Family Development. Their focus is making the healthy choice the easy choice for all Minnesotans, through research, education and engagement in the community. Extension Health and Nutrition staff work on systems-level issues of food access and policy as well as food skills and education. They have two federally funded nutrition education programs that serve income-qualified populations; SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education) and EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program), as well as a cooking intensive curriculum called Cooking Matters. All three programs have worked with partners on the East Side to provide nutrition tips and cooking knowledge to seniors, adults, children and families.
Extension joined East Side Table in 2017 to see how their Health & Nutrition programs could support current and future projects around healthy food, specifically the Make-at-Home Meal Kits! It has been a huge privilege to get to know extension and learn from their shared wisdom and experience working on nutrition and healthy eating projects throughout the Twin Cities. We have all been excited to share ideas and resources such as grocery store tours for meal kit participants, connecting partners with SNAP-Ed, EFNEP and Cooking Matters classes, and engaging with partners about how to increase healthy food access for all East Side residents.
Thank you to Laura Bohen and the rest of University of Minnesota Extension for their dedication to healthy food access and nutritional knowledge throughout the East Side Saint Paul community!