Aug 18, 2011
Is your household food insecure? While gardening is the best long-term strategy for increasing food security, gardening does not provide immediate benefits. There are several things you can do today to improve food security in your household.
- Visit a food pantry near you. Contact Food Share to find out more.
- Apply for CalFresh benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps and currently known federally as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP). These benefits can be used to purchase food as well as seeds and seedlings.
- Follow healthy low-cost recipes to stretch your food dollar. Make the most of what you have. The USDA has two great sites full of recipes and tips for making good, nutritious food on a tight budget.
- USDA’s Recipes and tips for healthy, thrifty meals and the Recipe finder database can be used to make healthy meals at low cost. All recipes are submitted by nutrition and health professionals and organizations. Nutritional quality and low-cost, readily available ingredients are required components for inclusion. Recipes and instructions are easy to follow -- with additional help for those less experienced in the kitchen. The Recipe finder database is available in Spanish.
Are you food secure, but would like to help those who are not? There are many ways to help ease food insecurity in your community. Some suggestions include:
- Volunteer at food banks/pantries/senior nutrition programs
- Plant a row for the hungry and donate excess produce
- Support community efforts and gardens with time and talents.
There are several things you can do today to improve food security in your household and your community.