Nutrition

Food insecurity and poor nutrition are present across all age groups. One in eight individuals is using food stamps. Obesity and often-accompanying diabetes have been identified as the most significant health challenges. Food safety, especially in the increasingly larger and more vulnerable older adult population, remains a constant threat.

Using demographic and health status data to identify challenges and accompanying opportunities, Sharon Johnson has developed programs that respond to community priorities and are affirmed through key informant interviewing.

Other Resources

Senior Meals Program
Provides meals to individuals who choose to live independently in their own homes. Encourages meal-time companionship and offers low cost, well balanced meals.

Oregon Food Bank

Recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources. It then distributes that food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon.

Feeding America

Providing food to Americans living with hunger and raising awareness of domestic hunger.

USDA's MyPyramid
MyPyramid Plan offers a personal eating plan with the foods and amounts that are right for each person. The MyPyramid Tracker offers an assessment of food intake and physical activity level.

Food Stamp Program
The program enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Food stamp recipients spend their benefits to buy eligible food in local retail food stores.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program
Better known as WIC, this USDA Food and Nutrition Service program serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.

Ancient Grain Class Recipes

Couscous Caviar

2 small cloves garlic

1 cup pitted black olives

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp Dijon mustard

¼ cup olive oil

1 ½ cups cook wheat berries, chilled

Fresh chives for garnish

1. Minces garlic, olives finely (or use food processor).

Add salt, mustard and oil.

2. Place cooked wheat berries in bowl and add olives mixture.