Plant Based Foods Association’s Post

WIC new plant-forward update may take two years to implement but it's going to influence a generation. The increase in access that this onramp can create can not be overstated. But the change in paradigm it will create as a result of education and exposure is transformative. #plantbasedfuture https://lnkd.in/dzzcdsnc

From fields to factories to families: What you see here is just a snippet of what it takes to turn peanuts into an energy dense, micronutrient paste used to treat malnourished children. Each of these boxes contains 150 sachets filled with a specialized peanut butter paste packed with enough nutrition to feed and treat a child for six weeks. Every sachet has a two-year shelf life and does not require refrigeration or additional preparation. As a result, children are able to be treated at home instead of in a hospital. USAID works with organizations like MANA (Mother Administered Nutritive Aid) in Georgia, shown here, as well as Edesia Nutrition in Rhode Island, to produce this life-saving product here in the United States. This is just one small piece of how USAID provides food and nutrition assistance all around the world. In 2023, USAID provided more than $5 billion in food and nutrition assistance to 134 million people in 61 countries. Today, on #WorldFoodDay, we salute everyone involved in helping get this life-saving food and nutrition into the hands of the children who need it.

Big News! WIC expands offerings to include more culturally relevant options for women and children. This is a major shift in acknowledging food preferences and the importance of providing familiar foods to deliver high-quality nutrition.  Solving food insecurity will take a multi-pronged approach, and this is one critical piece to getting there. Next, let's add #FoodEducation to the mix, to ensure people learn to prepare and enjoy nourishing foods for life. https://lnkd.in/dKyGiQ_j

#SchoolMeals have the potential to improve child #nutrition, model healthy eating, and #transform food systems. Here are 5 data points ahead of the 2024 Global Survey of School Meal Programs © report launch that you can use to advocate for school meals in your country today: In the school year starting in 2022: 🪙 At least $67.2 billion was allocated to school meals 🥣 An estimated 408.2 million children were fed by school meals 🌏 73% of school meal programs were funded by domestic government sources 👨🌾 43% of programs provided support to small-scale farmers 🌱 29% of programs gave preference for contracting small-scale farmers for home-grown school feeding Visit https://lnkd.in/gMf66wNs to read the 2024 Global Survey of School Meal Programs © Survey Highlights. The Rockefeller Foundation, USDA, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) https://lnkd.in/gupB-fgs

According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report, 50% of people facing hunger are unlikely to qualify for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). This means that millions of families are struggling to put food on the table without the critical support they need. At HATCH, we believe no one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Read the full report from Feeding America here: https://bit.ly/4dKmW0h

Food insecurity refers to the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. It often leads to reliance on cheaper, calorie-dense, and nutrient-poor food options. Nutritional gaps arise when mothers or families cannot access the variety and quality of foods needed to meet dietary recommendations, resulting in various nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy and after delivery. Barriers to access include economic challenges, such as the cost of nutrient-dense foods, and practical obstacles, like unreliable transportation to supermarkets or farmers' markets that offer affordable, healthy options. Additionally, systemic challenges—such as zoning, food deserts and underfunded nutrition assistance programs—further compound the problem. Addressing these issues requires an approach that combines community action, policy changes, and health care interventions to ensure equitable access to nutritious food. If you're looking to support the women of Marion County, find more information here: justcommunityindy.org #BlackMaternalHealth #DoulaCare #EquityInAction #Advocacy #MaternalHealth #RaiseTheStandard #JUSTCommunity #HealthEquity #SupportBlackMothers

Our Upcoming Preemie Parent Chat: Introducing Solids to Your Preterm Infant 🥄 Join us on August 16th at 1:00pm EDT for our next Preemie chat with Dr.Kathryn Walton, a Registered Dietitian and Assistant Professor of Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph. Dive into the journey of introducing solid foods to your preterm infant, a critical step in your little one’s development. What You'll Learn: 💜When and How to Start: Understand the best timing and methods for introducing solids based on your child’s development. 💜First Foods: Discover which foods are best to start with for your preemie. 💜Milestones: Recognize key developmental signs that indicate readiness for solid foods. 💜Picky vs. Problem Eating: Learn to distinguish between picky eating and potential feeding issues. 💜Stress-Free Meals: Gain practical tips to make mealtime a positive experience for both you and your baby. This talk is perfect for parents navigating the introduction of solids to their preterm infants. Kathryn’s expert advice will provide you with the confidence and knowledge to support your baby’s nutritional journey. 🔗 Join us on our Facebook, LinkedIn or Youtube pages! #PreemieCare #SolidFoods #ParentingTips #PreemieParents #InfantNutrition

Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2024 proposes slapping warning labels onto soda, 'Drinking beverages with added sugar can contribute to obesity, type-2 diabetes, and tooth decay. Not recommended for children.’ The bill also aims to place similar warnings on artificial sweetened beverages ('contains non-sugar sweeteners, not recommended for children') and even on ultra-processed packaged food. Although I believe it will take many months-to-years for this bill to lead to the actions stated, I am encouraged, and those who believe we need to stop marketing junk food to kids should be encouraged too. Finally, a step in the right direction. You can check out the press release here, and the proposed legislation: https://lnkd.in/eMZn636R Michael Hystead, Klas Andréasson, Ricky Wright, CCSM, CSPO, BMET 🎾, Jacob Mirsky, MD, MA, DipABLM, Kristi Artz MD, Zeev Neuwirth, MD, Roberto A. Lugo, RPA-C, Steve Simpson

Did you know that in 2023, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits did not cover the cost of a meal in 99 percent of counties? While #SNAP helps more than 42 million Americans buy food for themselves and their families each year, many families receiving SNAP benefits are still facing food insecurity. In this updated #tool from Urban, explore #data by county, or filter by rural-urban continuum codes to see patterns of the maximum SNAP benefit per meal with the county-level average cost of a modestly priced meal. Access the tool. https://urbn.is/4bPlxng

Join our epic food fight to create a healthier, happier future for children! 🍏 Did you know there are no Government backed food regulations for early years settings!? And with shocking reports finding that more than a fifth of the UK's five-year-olds are overweight or obese, we need to do something about this NOW! That's why, together, with early years industry leaders, we're lobbying the Government to introduce clear and robust food and nutrition regulations for early years settings. Help win this battle for children and drive change by joining The Big Nursery Food Fight, here: https://chng.it/QNFZKTnhT6 #TheBigNurseryFoodFight