Nutrition Education
(SNAP-ED)Nutrition Education
Hunger Task Force operates a robust nutrition education program to educate students, parents and the public about healthy eating on a budget. We don’t just feed our community—we also educate our students, seniors and families about healthy eating!
During the school year, the Hunger Task Force on-staff School Nutrition Educator travels to local Milwaukee Public Schools teaching nutrition education to low-income kids. Students take regular field trips to the Hunger Task Force Farm, where they gain hands-on experience working in the school garden and demonstration kitchen.
Our Hunger Task Force Community Dietitian also works within the community to educate adults about choosing healthy foods, cooking simple recipes and doing it all while saving money. For more information about recipes, learning opportunities, to plan a visit to The Farm or set up a cooking class, contact us at [email protected].
Try-At-Home Recipes
Pumpkin Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
A delicious, low-fat pumpkin muffin with a touch of vegetables and some sweet
chocolate chips! A healthy alternative to other sugary breakfast options.
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
This Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie is loaded with nutrients and is so delicious, your body and your mouth will thank you for making it!
Instant Vegan Mashed Potatoes
Make this vegan mashed potato recipe with our Shepherd’s Pie recipe for a comforting, dairy-free dish. Be sure to check the ingredient’s list of your instant mashed potato mix to ensure there’s no milk pre-added or use freshly boiled potatoes.
Ethiopian Cabbage
Enjoy this Ethiopian vegetable dish with your choice of grains, protein, and fruits to make it a MyPlate meal! This dish is filled with earthy flavors and a variety of textures. It is often served with injera and is vegan friendly.
Shrimp Pasta with Mozzarella
Looking for a quick fix? This tasty recipe is quick and easy to make and many of the ingredients can be found in your pantry. Make it your own by switching out some of the ingredients.
Vegan Japchae
Japchae (pronounced “Chap-Chay”) is a popular Korean noodle stir fry made with sweet potato glass noodles, vegetables, and often times meat. The sweet potato glass noodles are not actually made of glass, but the clear color is where it gets its name from.
Three Sisters Soup
This recipe features key ingredients in many Native American tribes such as the three sisters: corn, beans, and squash. This combination provides protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals.
Zesty Tuna Pasta
Italian cuisine is based on the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in pasta, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Italian cooking often uses garlic, olive oil, fresh tomatoes, basil, oregano, and cheese. This Italian inspired recipe can be easily made with ingredients commonly found in your pantry and is a great source of iron and vitamin D.
Lentil Vegetable Soup
Serve this hearty vegetable soup with crackers or whole wheat bread for a satisfying meal!
Education Resources
From the Ground Video
Where does our food come from? Watch this video to see how we can trace our food back to the ground.
Parts of the Plant Video
Did you know you can eat all six parts of a plant? Walk through each part with Farmer Sarah!
Nutrients
Discover more about nutrients, how they help our body and what foods you can find them in!
Current Network Foods
Canned Peaches
Fruit canned in its own juice is a great option for helping you reach your daily fruit goals. Low in calories, fat and sodium, peaches are a great source of vitamin C to help keep a healthy immune system. Eat them as a snack, make some peach salsa, or add to yogurt or oatmeal.
Split Peas
Dried split peas are good source of plant-based protein, low in fat and an excellent source of fiber. Fiber is important to help us maintain digestive health, and helps to regulate your cholesterol for heart health, too! Click here for a quick and easy soup recipe to warm you up.
American Cheese
Cheese is an excellent source of calcium, which is key in helping us maintain strong, healthy bones. Add a slice of cheese to some whole wheat bread and lean turkey. Have a small salad on the side and a piece of fruit for dessert to cover all of the food groups.
Healthy Families Cookbook
This cookbook provides a budget-friendly resource for students, families and school partners to cook up new dishes that make healthy choices fun and easy for kids.
The Hunger Task Force “Healthy Families Cookbook” is a wonderful kitchen companion for the whole family! Packed with a variety of easy, nutritious recipes designed to delight both kids and adults, this cookbook is your gateway to creating wholesome meals that the whole family will love.
With step-by-step instructions and handy tips, even the littlest chefs can get involved in the kitchen, making mealtime a fun, interactive experience for the entire family. Say goodbye to the struggle of convincing picky eaters to enjoy their veggies, because our recipes are cleverly crafted to make nutritious ingredients irresistible.
All of these recipes can be modified depending on allergies, food restrictions and family needs!
Hunger Task Force Shares Heart Healthy Meal with WISN 12
When stocking its 44 food pantries, Hunger Task Force uses what’s called the MyPlate model, it’s similar to the food pyramid, as a guide for helping people make good choices. “To make sure that the foods that we’re providing are healthy,” King said. “We are committed to using the kitchen as a way to teach people how to use those ingredients.” Nutrition educator Melanie Foland walked WISN 12 News’ Diana Gutierrez through the heart-healthy shrimp pasta dinner.
Cultural Foods Coordinator Keeps Pantry Shelves Stocked with Staples for All
When clients walk through the aisles of an emergency food pantry within the Hunger Task Force network, they have a variety of healthy items at their fingertips to bring home to cook healthy, cultural recipes. Pasua Chang, our Cultural Foods Coordinator, is dedicated to bridging the gap between stocking food pantry shelves with healthy food and healthy, cultural food – people crave.
Winter 2024 Nutrition Education Quarterly available online
Hunger Task Force doesn’t just feed people in our community – we help along their health journeys, too. Hunger Task Force offers a robust Nutrition Education Program committed to providing useful tools to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Check out this seasonal edition of our Nutrition Education Quarterly. Explore this seasonal publication for helpful tips on healthy eating, cooking skills, budget-friendly shopping and ways to fit physical activity in your day.
Child Nutrition Organizer Helps Ensure That Every Child in Wisconsin Starts School Ready to Learn
School meals play an important role in helping to ensure that every child in Wisconsin starts school ready to learn. As the Child Nutrition Organizer, Tamira Rasco works to increase participation in federal nutrition programs in our schools through outreach, organizing, education and by eliminating hurdles standing between kids having access to nutritious, free school meals.
Hmong American students find their roots in the School Garden through “Cooking with Culture”
This summer, Hunger Task Force piloted the “Cooking with Culture” initiative, a multi-grade nutrition program that taught students from the Hmong community about healthy eating. Students were introduced to harvesting vegetables from the School Garden and preparing their own meals in the education kitchen.