The West Texas Food Bank needs to make sure those in our community understand the importance of basic nutrition, food safety, and making healthy choices. Our Nutrition Education and Gardening programs help protect our clients' well-being.
The Nutrition Education Program, or SNAP-Ed, is an active learning initiative focused on basic nutrition, food safety, and healthier food choices. The Food Bank provides hands-on classes to help the community understand how their food choices affect their present and future health. We provide menu planning advice for nutritionally-balanced meals and snacks, tips for shopping on a small budget, and tools to help families make healthier choices. We also provide cooking demonstration classes, recipe creations, and taste testing!
At the West Texas Food Bank we are incorporating our gardens and greenhouses into our nutrition education program. A Master Gardener on staff coordinates the planting and harvesting of raised planter beds at both Midland and Odessa facilities. She also coordinates planting and harvesting of the two climate controlled greenhouses in Midland. The produce grown is used for Nutrition Education classes and in taste testing on Senior Client Choice Pantry days.
We collaborate with the Permian Basin Master Gardeners who work with the Food Bank to present educational opportunities and help with the planting in the gardens and greenhouses.
(Photographer: Keith Talley)