MEALFINDER "Eating Healthy"

Join us for our 2024 MEALFINDER "Eating Healthy Project"

Visit MEALSDAILY and explore the healthy foods and recipes section. It features recipes that are healthy, budget-friendly, and easy to prepare.

Support local food banks, shelters, and soup kitchens by donating healthy foods. Check their "WISHLIST" for needed items, contribute nutritious options, or offer your time as a volunteer. Incorporate 'Eating Healthy' into your daily routine.

• 50% of Americans admit that they do not try to eat healthy.
• 2 in 5 adult Americans have obesity, including severe obesity.
• More than 80% of Americans' diets are low in vegetables, fruits and dairy
• 2.7% of Americans have a "healthy lifestyle," meaning they meet four qualifications

  being sufficiently active

  eating a healthy diet

  being a nonsmoker

  having a healthy body fat percentage

FOR MORE LOCAL FOOD SOURCES, NATIONAL FOOD SOURCES, FOOD RECIPES, GOVERNMENT HELP & MORE CLICK BELOW

MEALSDAILY

If you’re hungry now:

Call 211 to find agencies and community organizations that can assist you with finding food in an emergency.  United Way 211 is a phone, app, and email service that can connect you with local food assistance programs.  To check if United Way 211 operates in your area, visit their homepage and enter your zip code, city, or state in the required boxes. 

Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273). Information is available in English and Spanish. The hotline operates Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time. 

Feeding America Food Bank Finder https://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-food Enter your zip code to find the food bank partnering with Feeding America. They'll share the locations and hours of nearby food distributions. Food banks distribute meals and surplus food to those in need—over 4 billion meals each year. Some food banks also run a School Pantry Program, which provides fresh produce, shelf-stable items, grains, and proteins to low-income families. 

FoodFinder.us is an easy-to-use website that is also available as an app for Apple or Android devices. On a smaller scale, many neighborhoods have a food pantry nearby, with houses of worship, community organizations, or other neighbors collecting food donations for families that need it. All you need to do is type in your ZIP code to see food pantries in your neighborhood. Click on a food pantry to view their phone number, hours of operation, areas serviced, and a link for directions.

No Kid Hungry Free Meal Finder. No Kid Hungry runs a Free Meal Finder to help families find local programs that provide free meals for children. Keep in mind, however, that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some programs listed may have restricted their hours or food options. Call ahead using the phone number in the meal finder’s listing to get the most up-to-date information. 

BenefitsCheckUp.org is a free online service of the National Council on Aging designed to help seniors.  Just answer a few simple questions and you will receive a personalized report listing the programs near you that you may be eligible for, program details, and how to apply in your area. This includes information about programs that can help you pay for medications, health care, utilities, and more. 

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)-If you need food assistance due to a sudden event, this program may be able to help. TEFAP provides emergency assistance to families in need with high-quality USDA foods that you can pick up at State Distributing Agencies. According to their website, you can apply for TEFAP by contacting your State Distributing Agency. 

Find Help with the USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse. The USDA’s National Hunger Clearinghouse can help people find food assistance near them. Operators at the USDA National Hunger Hotline take calls from 7AM to 10PM Eastern Time.You can access the clearinghouse by phone at 1-866-3-HUNGRY, or 1-877-8-HAMBRE for Spanish. From there, you can talk to a representative who will help you find meal sites, food banks, and social services. You can also text the Clearinghouse. Text 97779 with a question that contains a keyword like “food” or “summer” to get an automated response about resources near you. Federal food assistance programs that help people facing hunger in the United States. 

Food Stamps (SNAP Food Benefits)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal nutrition program. Known previously as "food stamps," SNAP benefits can help you stretch your food budget if you have a low income.

WIC Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

This short-term program can help you get healthy food for yourself and your young children. Many low-income women and young children can get healthy food to add to their diet. It’s available through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC also offers nutrition counseling and referrals to health, welfare, and social services. 

Free School Meals for Children

These programs can help you get healthy meals for your children at their school, childcare center, or after-school program. Children from qualified households with a low income can get healthy meals or milk. 

Two programs provide free or reduced-price meals at school: The National School Lunch Program The School Breakfast Program

• Schools that don't offer meal programs may provide milk to children at school. 
• The Summer Food Service Program offers free breakfast and lunch over summer break. 

Free Food Programs for Seniors

Two federally sponsored programs aim to get nutritious foods to seniors with a low income. Most states offer these programs for seniors with a low income: 

• Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program - Provides coupons for fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs. Use them at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community farms. 
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program - Provides a monthly package of healthy food