SNAP-Ed nutrition educator discusses shopping, cooking, healthy eating on a budget on 'MPBN’s' Maine Calling
On October 6, Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator and registered dietitian Jacqueline Stevens of Healthy Northern Kennebec participated on a panel with Maine chefs and a local childhood obesity expert on Maine Public Broadcasting Network's (MPBN) interactive radio program Maine Calling.
The panel, hosted by Keith Shortall, MPBN's news and public affairs director, worked to debunk the myth that highly processed, calorically dense, low nutrition foods are more accessible and cheaper than quality nutrition dense foods.The panel examined some of the challenges to eating healthy, including access to healthful foods, time or energy to cook, as well as costs. Stevens provided tips for eating healthy on a budget, such as:
- Think about the cost per serving, and watch your portion sizes.
- Planning is key to eating healthy on a budget.
- Choose high fiber foods because fiber helps you feel fuller longer.
- Look for and try healthier substitutes, such as plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
The Maine Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed) is the nutrition education and obesity prevention component of the SNAP program, which is funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In Maine, SNAP-Ed is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and implemented by the University of New England's (UNE) School of Community and Population Health. UNE contracts with the Healthy Maine Partnerships, a statewide network of community health coalitions that form Maine’s public health infrastructure, to deliver local programming.