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The Douglas County Extension Services nutrition education program organizes and funds a program in which volunteers attend four pantry sites and the Department of Human Services in Douglas County, sharing healthy recipes and nutrition information.
Each month the volunteers visit the Dillard/Winston food pantry, Roseburg Seventh Day-adventist food pantry, Sutherlin Oakland relief food pantry and the Glide Seventh Day-adventist food pantry.
Each month there is a different topic. Sometimes the topic is based around a certain food that is under-utilized by participants. At other times it's a message that supports a nutritious recipe. Last month our focus was on a food not eaten by many people: tofu. It is a food that is a great source of protein, is low in fat and counts in the meat and bean group. Participants sampled a tofu fried rice recipe. Some in attendance were hesitant to try a recipe that had tofu in the title. We assured them they would never have known there was tofu in the rice if we had not told them. We explained how tofu takes on the flavor of the spices and other ingredients in the dish.
The majority of those in attendance did try the tofu fried rice and everyone seemed to like it. We even had the question of what tofu was made of (soy beans). Some participants in the pantries were not sure if they wanted to receive tofu in their food boxes, so pantry works had them try the recipe prepared by the OSU Extension volunteers before deciding. In every case the participant chose to receive the tofu. We have found that many people are tired of the same recipes and are looking for fun, healthy new ways to cook foods.
The OSU Extension volunteers have enjoyed bringing this program to the people in Douglas County. A few have mentioned that they have even learned new ideas of how to cook foods or are trying new foods at home because of volunteering with the nutrition education program. This month the family food education volunteers are doing a hands-on activity with interested pantry participants. We are showing people how to use a MyPyramid wheel (a nutritional tool created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture) to find out their own personal dietary guidelines. Any participant who completes the worksheet with the OSU Extension volunteer receives a grocery bag, with a guide in it, to aid in making healthy choices when they go to the grocery store.
Next time you see the smiling face of a volunteer wearing an OSU apron, stop by to see what fun nutrition information we can share with you. The information usually comes with great-tasting food to help show that foods that are good for you can be tasty as well. If you are interested in volunteering, contact me at the address and phone number listed below. If you are interested in finding some new healthy recipes, go to http://healthyrecipes.oregonstate.edu/.
Mandy Hatfield is the Nutrition Education program instructor for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at mandy.hatfield@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 541-672-4461.
Each month the volunteers visit the Dillard/Winston food pantry, Roseburg Seventh Day-adventist food pantry, Sutherlin Oakland relief food pantry and the Glide Seventh Day-adventist food pantry.
Each month there is a different topic. Sometimes the topic is based around a certain food that is under-utilized by participants. At other times it's a message that supports a nutritious recipe. Last month our focus was on a food not eaten by many people: tofu. It is a food that is a great source of protein, is low in fat and counts in the meat and bean group. Participants sampled a tofu fried rice recipe. Some in attendance were hesitant to try a recipe that had tofu in the title. We assured them they would never have known there was tofu in the rice if we had not told them. We explained how tofu takes on the flavor of the spices and other ingredients in the dish.
The majority of those in attendance did try the tofu fried rice and everyone seemed to like it. We even had the question of what tofu was made of (soy beans). Some participants in the pantries were not sure if they wanted to receive tofu in their food boxes, so pantry works had them try the recipe prepared by the OSU Extension volunteers before deciding. In every case the participant chose to receive the tofu. We have found that many people are tired of the same recipes and are looking for fun, healthy new ways to cook foods.
The OSU Extension volunteers have enjoyed bringing this program to the people in Douglas County. A few have mentioned that they have even learned new ideas of how to cook foods or are trying new foods at home because of volunteering with the nutrition education program. This month the family food education volunteers are doing a hands-on activity with interested pantry participants. We are showing people how to use a MyPyramid wheel (a nutritional tool created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture) to find out their own personal dietary guidelines. Any participant who completes the worksheet with the OSU Extension volunteer receives a grocery bag, with a guide in it, to aid in making healthy choices when they go to the grocery store.
Next time you see the smiling face of a volunteer wearing an OSU apron, stop by to see what fun nutrition information we can share with you. The information usually comes with great-tasting food to help show that foods that are good for you can be tasty as well. If you are interested in volunteering, contact me at the address and phone number listed below. If you are interested in finding some new healthy recipes, go to http://healthyrecipes.oregonstate.edu/.
Mandy Hatfield is the Nutrition Education program instructor for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at mandy.hatfield@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 541-672-4461.
