Nutrition Education for Hunger Education Week 2023

We asked some of our volunteers and employees at La Puente to write articles for Hunger Education Week which took place Sunday, May 7th through Friday May 12th, 2023. During this week we work to raise awareness surrounding the issue of food insecurity. Millions are still unable to eat sufficient food to meet basic nutritional needs. Hunger Education Week is a series of events designed to increase awareness about the realities of hunger in our communities and what we can do to help. Please read these articles as they focus on topics concerning food insecurities and how we can help our communities.

The following was written by La Puente’s own Allie Christian who works at the Food Bank Network in Alamosa.

Nutrition Matters

At the Food Bank Network of the San Luis Valley, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality, nutritious food. In order to make this goal a reality, we focus on several nutrition ideas while ordering and distributing food, including prioritizing low-sodium canned goods and access to unlimited produce.

La Puente Offers Nutrition Options such as Low Sodium

In our food bank network’s purchasing budget, we aim to buy low-sodium canned goods. Large amounts of sodium can be hidden in canned, processed, and convenience foods. These canned goods may not taste salty, such as soups, vegetables, or meats, but they are often loaded with more than the average person’s daily sodium needs. A recent study by the Food and Drug Administration found that Americans eat on average about 3,400mg of sodium per day. However, an average adult is recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to consume less than 2,300mg per day. A diet that is overly high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. At the San Luis Valley Food Bank Network, we are working to combat the negative impacts that high sodium levels can have on a person’s diet by purchasing and distributing canned goods that are low in sodium. 

Fresh Produce

In addition to our careful selection of canned goods, our food bank network emphasizes the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables in our food banks. If you have ever walked into the Alamosa food bank, you will see a sign that says “unlimited produce.” Grocery stores traditionally charge high prices for fresh produce compared to the relatively cheap costs of processed goods. Fruits and vegetables are the base of a healthy diet, providing vitamins and minerals essential to a well-balanced lifestyle. By providing easy and plentiful access to fresh produce, our hope is that families will be able to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their everyday meals. Along with food pantries, our Valley Education Garden Initiative (VEGI) program works to educate children and adults on how to grow their own healthy foods in gardens around Alamosa. The lead volunteer for the VEGI program, Jake Myers, had the following to say about his program, “An essential part of VEGI’s mission is the belief that educating children about healthy foods and how to grow them will have a long-term effect, not only later when they are making their own food choices, but also through the influence they have on their families’ decisions presently. That is the reason behind programs like Stone Soup at Alamosa Elementary School, which had nearly 500 participants in 2022. Children get to experience the whole process of preparing soup, from pulling carrots from the ground and cleaning them to cooking those same carrots and eating them.”

Supporting Our Community

By consistently providing healthy food options to households in our community facing food insecurity, such as low-sodium canned goods and unlimited fresh produce, we at the Food Bank Network of the San Luis believe the physical and mental health of our community and neighbors will be the best they can be.