Healthy Eating in Healthy Eating in a SNAP!a SNAP!

By: Natalie CaroBy: Natalie Caro

Target PopulationTarget Population 55 and older formerly homeless who receive 55 and older formerly homeless who receive

SNAP benefits or are on a fixed/limited income.SNAP benefits or are on a fixed/limited income.

Experiencing various health ailments such as Experiencing various health ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressurediabetes, high blood pressure

Poor Nutrition, bad eating habitsPoor Nutrition, bad eating habits

What is SNAP?What is SNAP? New York State Supplemental New York State Supplemental

Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the new name for the (SNAP), the new name for the food stamp program, issues food stamp program, issues monthly electronic benefits that monthly electronic benefits that can be used like cash at can be used like cash at authorized retail food stores. authorized retail food stores.

Eligibility and benefit levels are Eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, based on household size, income, assets and other income, assets and other factors.factors.

www.myBenefits.ny.gov http://www.feednyc.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BACE2T2l6Mo https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=wofi37ZAk6kv=wofi37ZAk6k

Household Size*

Maximum Income Level (Per Year)

1 $15,301 2 $20,709 3 $26,117 4 $31,525 5 $36,933 6 $42,341 7 $47,749 8 $53,157

Effects of Poor NutritionEffects of Poor Nutrition Weak Immune Weak Immune

System System    Poor Wound HealingPoor Wound Healing   Poor dental healthPoor dental health

Muscle WeaknessMuscle Weakness

High Blood Pressure High Blood Pressure 

High CholesterolHigh Cholesterol

Heart Disease Heart Disease 

DepressionDepression

Common misgivings of Common misgivings of SNAPSNAP

““I donI don’’t receive enough money to t receive enough money to purchase food for the monthpurchase food for the month””

The monthly average benefit per person for The monthly average benefit per person for NY state in 2014 was NY state in 2014 was

$138.78$138.78

Consider this…..Consider this…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=cihXvL96QVQv=cihXvL96QVQ

Helpful Tips….Helpful Tips….1. Buy fresh produce when it's in 1. Buy fresh produce when it's in

season and freeze it.season and freeze it.2. Look for sales and plan meals 2. Look for sales and plan meals

accordingly.accordingly.3. Try less expensive cuts of meat.3. Try less expensive cuts of meat.

You can still enjoy meat, even You can still enjoy meat, even when you're on a tight budget. when you're on a tight budget. Look for less expensive cuts of Look for less expensive cuts of meat, like meat, like chicken thighsinstead of instead of chicken breasts, and try chicken breasts, and try different cooking methods, like the , like the slow cooker, to make tougher cuts slow cooker, to make tougher cuts of meat tender and juicy.]of meat tender and juicy.]

4. Embrace whole grains and 4. Embrace whole grains and beans.beans.

5. Plan and prep meals ahead.5. Plan and prep meals ahead.6. Broaden your culinary 6. Broaden your culinary

horizons!horizons!

7. Keep an organized fridge 7. Keep an organized fridge and pantry.and pantry.

Waste of leftovers or frozen Waste of leftovers or frozen food can be minimized food can be minimized bykeeping an orderly bykeeping an orderly fridge/freezer and by labeling.  fridge/freezer and by labeling. 

8. Repurpose leftovers.8. Repurpose leftovers. If you don't like eating the If you don't like eating the

same meal over and over, same meal over and over, considerconsiderrepurposing leftovers into an entirely new leftovers into an entirely new and delicious mealand delicious meal

9. Go to the farmers market 9. Go to the farmers market at the end of the day.at the end of the day.

10. Shop at ethnic markets.10. Shop at ethnic markets.

GoalsGoals xx

Clients will use at least 2 of the ‘Helpful tips’ Clients will use at least 2 of the ‘Helpful tips’ given to improve nutrition and prolong use of given to improve nutrition and prolong use of benefitsbenefits

Clients will create meal plan for a 7 day Clients will create meal plan for a 7 day week/grocery list week/grocery list

Clients will submit a receipt weekly (if applicable) Clients will submit a receipt weekly (if applicable) demonstrating their ability to demonstrating their ability to

Goals Goals Clients will address feelings of shame / Clients will address feelings of shame /

discrimination regarding using their SNAP benefits discrimination regarding using their SNAP benefits when shopping when shopping

Clients will reduce negative experiences / Clients will reduce negative experiences / perceptions of using SNAP benefitsperceptions of using SNAP benefits

Clients will increase sense of independence Clients will increase sense of independence

Week 1 - Informational sessionWeek 1 - Informational session

Clients will be given helpful tips and instruction on how Clients will be given helpful tips and instruction on how to prolong the use of the food they purchase. to prolong the use of the food they purchase.

They will be informed as to how poor nutrition effects They will be informed as to how poor nutrition effects their overall health.their overall health.

At the end of this session clients will be asked to At the end of this session clients will be asked to select/research a healthy recipe or alternative option to select/research a healthy recipe or alternative option to an unhealthy meal and be ready to share it with the an unhealthy meal and be ready to share it with the group at the start of the second session.group at the start of the second session.

Week 2 - Grocery List ReviewWeek 2 - Grocery List Review

Recipes / Healthy alternative assignment will be discussed Recipes / Healthy alternative assignment will be discussed as a group. as a group.

Concerns about being “food insecure” as well as the possible Concerns about being “food insecure” as well as the possible “shame” associated with using SNAP benefits will be “shame” associated with using SNAP benefits will be discussed.discussed.

At the end of this session, clients will be asked to create a At the end of this session, clients will be asked to create a meal plan for the following week with an accompanying meal plan for the following week with an accompanying grocery listgrocery list

Clients will then sign up for grocery shopping groups, for the Clients will then sign up for grocery shopping groups, for the Week 3 activityWeek 3 activity

Week 3 - Grocery Shopping GroupsWeek 3 - Grocery Shopping Groups

Clients will meet with other members of their Clients will meet with other members of their shopping groupsshopping groups

They will be taken to the local supermarket and will They will be taken to the local supermarket and will individually purchase what is on their grocery listindividually purchase what is on their grocery list

ResultsResults Receipts / Recipe submissionReceipts / Recipe submission Less shame associated with food Less shame associated with food

shopping ‘strength in numbers’shopping ‘strength in numbers’

Planning CommitteePlanning Committee All on-site case managers as well as All on-site case managers as well as

supervisors as they too have a caseload supervisors as they too have a caseload and much inputand much input

Members of Community Cultivation groupMembers of Community Cultivation group Rotate the participation of a member of Rotate the participation of a member of

the target population in each building to the target population in each building to act as spokespersonact as spokesperson

ResourcesResources / Recruitment/ Recruitment Case managers at each site aid their clients as needed in the process Case managers at each site aid their clients as needed in the process

of the program. (internet help, continued motivation etc.)of the program. (internet help, continued motivation etc.) Community Cultivation Group will be asked to part-take in the program Community Cultivation Group will be asked to part-take in the program

and recruited to accompany clients for the group food shopping and recruited to accompany clients for the group food shopping activity.activity.

Community Cultivation Group will also be asked to consider all the Community Cultivation Group will also be asked to consider all the information discussed throughout the program pertaining to information discussed throughout the program pertaining to health/proper nutrition when they facilitate their own cooking classes health/proper nutrition when they facilitate their own cooking classes twice a month, and their monthly dinners.twice a month, and their monthly dinners.

Each building has a community room that can be used for Each building has a community room that can be used for presentations at no cost. presentations at no cost.

One time van rental for food shopping activity would cost One time van rental for food shopping activity would cost approximately $250.00. (depends on the number of participants and approximately $250.00. (depends on the number of participants and overall distance to the local supermarket)overall distance to the local supermarket)

Equipment for the presentation ie, projector. No costEquipment for the presentation ie, projector. No cost Food and beverages would be served ($100 per session)Food and beverages would be served ($100 per session)

Case managers would be asked to participate and help prepare Case managers would be asked to participate and help prepare refreshments refreshments

Marketing Marketing Information pertaining to this workshop Information pertaining to this workshop

would be added to the calendar that is would be added to the calendar that is distributed to all clients in all buildings.distributed to all clients in all buildings.

Flyer’s will be distributed by each of the Flyer’s will be distributed by each of the case managers at their locations for their case managers at their locations for their individual case loadsindividual case loads

Registration / RSVP would be required Registration / RSVP would be required for the workshop seriesfor the workshop series

Thank You! Thank You!

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=869&page=3nutrition_articles.asp?id=869&page=3

http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/pd/http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/pd/18SNAPavg$PP.pdf18SNAPavg$PP.pdf

http://www.thekitchn.com/10-smart-tips-for-http://www.thekitchn.com/10-smart-tips-for-eating-healthy-on-a-super-tight-budget-reader-eating-healthy-on-a-super-tight-budget-reader-intelligence-report-211182intelligence-report-211182

http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=what_20_will_buy_at_the_drivethru_and_post=what_20_will_buy_at_the_drivethru_and_at_the_supermarketat_the_supermarket