There are many different food and nutrition program that help ensure that people in need have access to nutritious foods. From SNAP and CalFresh to WIC and the School Lunch Program, these programs provide benefits for a variety of different food items.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – helps people on low incomes get enough to eat by providing electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food. These benefits are available to individuals and families who are eligible based on household size, income and other factors.
The program also provides economic benefits to communities by allowing people on low incomes to shop for and buy healthy food that they would otherwise not be able to afford. SNAP is a major component of the domestic hunger safety net and serves millions of Americans each year.
Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) – is a nutrition program designed to promote the health of women, infants and children up to age 5. This program provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care for these individuals at no cost.
Schools Meals Program – serves breakfast to children in public and private schools as well as residential child care institutions. This program is federally funded and operated through agreements with local school food authorities.
Farm to School Grants – supports the implementation of a school meal program that serves locally grown or produced foods in school lunches and snacks. The goal is to increase children’s consumption of nutritious foods, while strengthening the local economy and promoting sustainable farming practices.
Community Food Systems – helps build and maintain a strong network of local and regional organizations that work to increase access to healthy food through a variety of activities, including nutrition education and training for food service providers. This includes the promotion of farmers markets, food hubs and other local food sources.
Policy, Systems and Environmental Approaches – teaches nutrition educators and other public health professionals to develop and implement strategies to improve access to healthy food in their communities. This course provides an introduction to these approaches as well as more in-depth information on how they can be implemented in a variety of settings, such as community centers and health clinics.
Creating Healthy Neighborhoods – addresses disparities in access to fresh and nutritious foods for low-income individuals and families by working with community-based organizations, non-profit agencies and local businesses. It also helps to educate the public about healthy eating and the importance of shopping for locally grown, organic or sustainably produced foods.
Healthy Eating in the City – The NYC Health Department works to address the issue of health inequity by promoting healthy eating habits and ensuring that New Yorkers have access to healthy foods. These efforts are achieved through a variety of strategies, including outreach, policy development and enforcement.
The City’s Health Department has created a number of resources, such as a website and a guide for businesses to help them provide healthier options to their customers. The department also encourages businesses to adopt the NYC Food Standards, which set criteria for healthy choices in their menus and beverages.