For many families that need to access a food pantry, making and eating healthy meals can be difficult. JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry tries to provide clients with a variety of food groups to help them achieve dietary diversity. We also provide fresh produce and whole grains, which can be hard for food insecure families to access. In 2020, the food we distributed consisted of 2% whole grains and 38% fruits and vegetables.
A lack of access to fresh and healthy foods can often lead to health problems such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more–putting additional strain on people’s wellbeing and livelihood.
The Food Resource and Action Center lists these challenges with food insecurity, poverty, and health problems that impact adults and children living in poverty or low income neighborhoods
- Limited access to grocery stores offering healthy, quality and low-cost fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Overeating when food becomes available, thus leading to weight gain.
- High stress levels due to the financial and emotional pressures of food insecurity, low-wage work, lack of access to health care, inadequate and long-distance transportation, poor housing, neighborhood violence, and other factors.
- Low participation in physical and outdoor activities due to lack of resources to participate.
Here at the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, we value providing healthy food with important nutrients and vitamins. We strive to address nutritional gaps for members of the community, beyond just providing groceries.
You can learn more about nutrition, healthy eating, and other food-related topics, plus get healthy, easy recipes when you sign up for our JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry monthly newsletter! Sign up here