Nutrition
Good nutrition is essential for keeping us healthy and happy at any age. Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables supplies our bodies with the fiber, vitamins, and minerals that our cells need to function. In 2019, 58.6% of Kansas adults consumed fruit one or more times per day and 80.1% of Kansas adults consumed vegetables one or more times per day. Healthy beverages, snacks, whole grains and protein choices such as lean meats and dairy complete a well-rounded diet.
Increase fruit and vegetable consumption in Kansas
- Increasing access to affordable healthy foods in a variety of settings
- Supporting food policy councils to improve the food environment in communities including expanding access to and consumption of healthy foods.
- Promote the creation of farmers markets and their expansion to include payment options for people with nutrition benefits, such as the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, WIC EBT, and Double Up Food Bucks
Increase breastfeeding rates
- Breastfeeding is one of the most highly effective preventative measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant. Community breastfeeding support such as supportive practices in hospitals and workplaces can help mothers reach breastfeeding goals and contribute to healthier communities.
- Support strategies to increase breastfeeding initiation and sustained breastfeeding through the first year of life.
Resources
Food Policy Council Priorities Reference Guide (PDF)
This reference guide explains basic concepts around food policy councils and provides ideas for priorities that food policy councils can adopt to improve their local food systems.
Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
The Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, cut herbs and local honey from farmers markets and roadside stands to low income seniors. The program is designed to increase consumption of fresh, Kansas produce and to aid in the development and expansion of farmers markets and roadside stands.
Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Promotional Flyer (Fillable PDF)
This flyer can be used to promote local farmers markets. We hope that this will be a useful, customizable resource for communities, market managers and farmers to promote their own markets and help Kansans eat local foods. This version has a text box at the bottom of the page where you can type the market information onto.
Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Promotional Flyer (Blank PDF)
This flyer can be used to promote local farmers markets. We hope that this will be a useful, customizable resource for communities, market managers and farmers to promote their own markets and help Kansans eat local foods. This version has a blank space at the bottom of the page so that you can print the page and hand-write the market information.
MyPlate: US Department of Agriculture
Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy ensures that your diet is full of nutritious and healthy foods. Learn more about each food group, find personalized resources, and use the interactive tools to help you make every bite count.