Many families in Bernalillo County work and have a big job raising children, but have limited income. ICAN can help. ICAN offers interactive nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and tastings free of charge to limited-resource adults and youth in places like community centers, the Bernalillo County Extension Office, local schools and more. Parent participants learn new cooking methods, easy recipes and shopping strategies so they learn to enjoy a delicious meal with the people that matter most to them!
Participants of ICAN improve their health and gain valuable life skills
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80% of adults improved in nutrition practices
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72% of youth improved in diet quality
Be Well this Summer
Summer is on its way there are more food options throughout Bernalillo County. Farmers' and Growers' markets are gearing up to start selling New Mexico grown produce. Farmers' markets are also fun for the kiddos. They can help with shopping and maybe the whole family can try something new. This summer, fresh fruits and vegetables cost less when using SNAP benefits. Many markets participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program which matches each SNAP dollar with another dollar to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Find locations here.
Also, if you are a WIC participant, WIC clinics are handing out Growers' Market checks to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets. Many WIC nutritionists also hand out checks to participants at select markets!
The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is available for income-eligible seniors age 60 and over and provides participants with $25 worth of checks that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables as well as honey at participating farmers' markets. Call Echo Inc. at 242-6777 for information of how to apply.
There are also numerous summer food sites for youth throughout Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. See links below to get dates, times and locations. It's a great time for your children to not only get a nutritious meal, but they can also be physically active because many locations are at parks. This could be a great time for parents to have some down time and meet other parents.
There are also all sorts of free and low-cost activities throughout the summer to do with your family. Many museums have free days for residents. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Library system have events. The county and city have pools, spray parks and movie nights, music and reading events all summer long. Plan on visiting open spaces with your family for a nice hike and a good reason to get outside.
Finally, if you need more help with food or want to find some deals throughout Bernalillo County this summer see link below for summer food resources.
