Community Nutrition Education

SNAP-Education

Community 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 Child 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 and Community Nutrition Educator also work 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].

Hunger Task Force MyPlate

The Hunger Task Force MyPlate is a healthy model that showcases the five main food groups as presented on a plate – fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. MyPlate encourages people to eat healthy foods by choosing the right types and amounts of foods to eat. This assures that vulnerable children, families and seniors who rely on food from the pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters receive nutritious foods.

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Featured MyPlate Recipes

Green Split Pea Salad

Green Split Pea Salad

Split peas are not just for soups! Split peas are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin K, and vitamin C. Combined with corn, tomatoes, and red onion; you’ll get a beautifully colorful dish that is packed with nutrients.

Veggie-Ful Breakfast Bites

Veggie-Ful Breakfast Bites

A veggie-loaded bite is the perfect on-the-go snack that guarantees your body will be fed fiber and antioxidants! Customize this recipe with your favorite vegetables or berries.

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!

Former Nutrition Educator Lauren Hansen Helped Hunger Task Force Become the First MyPlate Focused Food Bank

Lauren Hansen’s passion for food and working with kids led her to join Hunger Task Force as a nutrition educator. She expanded the supply of fruits and vegetables in government programs and pioneered MyPlate-focused initiatives. Lauren’s interactive lessons taught low-income students about healthy eating, food origins, and cooking with fresh produce.

Hunger Task Force Welcomes Three Summer Interns

The principal strength of Hunger Task Force is its compassionate and committed staff. As an anti-hunger organization, Hunger Task Force commits to hiring staff with an array of skills, talents and the cultural competence to best serve our diverse community. Hunger Task Force is excited to welcome three summer interns – Nina, Nadia and Ashlyn – as they assist Hunger Task Force in our mission to end hunger in Milwaukee.

Sprouting Healthy Habits: Garden-to-Plate Program Nurtures Young Chefs

Summertime is here, and Hunger Task Force is celebrating the incredible success of our Garden-to-Plate program! This year, the program reached 356 students across 14 classrooms in the West Allis-West Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public Schools districts. With a focus on MyPlate lessons and interactive learning, students learned about healthy eating and cooking through classroom visits, kitchen practice, and hands-on gardening.

Summer 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.

From Classroom to Community: Child Nutrition Educator Inspires Healthy Choices in Local Schools

Through the Garden-to-Plate program, the Child Nutrition Educator travels to local schools, teaching valuable nutrition lessons. This initiative specifically targets low-income youth – equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make healthy choices on a budget – and allows them to connect with the source of their food.

Spring 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.

Meet Laura Witkowski Our SNAP-ED Farmer Teaching Urban Students the Basics of Farming

Hunger Task Force offers a Farm-to-School program that gives nearly 30 students from Milwaukee Public Schools in third, fourth and fifth grade the opportunity to take bi-weekly field trips to the Hunger Task Force Farm during the growing season.

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.

farmer harvesting collard greens

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!

fresh fruit and vegetables

Nutrients

Discover more about nutrients, how they help our body and what foods you can find them in!