Nutrition education that empowers and uplifts.
Our Nutrition Policy Statement:
A holistic and community-centered approach to nutrition is our foundation for an equitable, transparent, and dignified food system. Offering culturally relevant and nourishing foods, we elevate individual voice and choice to allow for informed decision-making. At the forefront of our efforts are health-forward initiatives that promote nutrition security and uphold our mission of harnessing the power of communities to end hunger.
Supporting Wellness At Pantries (SWAP) policy:
Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) policy:
Nutrition and Health Education is part of the work we do to provide the most nutritious foods possible.
The food we distribute is evaluated by our dietitians and curated to ensure families receive foods they love to eat that will make full meals.
Our Nutrition and Health Education team includes Registered Dietitians, Dietetic Interns, volunteer medical students and nurses, who are available to answer health-related questions. As guests arrive to pick up groceries, volunteer medical students from Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine and nurses from Rush Oak Park Hospital are on hand to offer blood pressure screenings and help identify immediate health needs. Our dietitians and dietetic interns screen clients at drive-through pantry for food allergies and diet restrictions and offer special diet boxes to help meet their needs.
Our Nutrition Education team also oversees a stoplight nutrition ranking system called SWAP that makes choosing healthier foods at our Community Market pantry easier. Additionally, our team offers cooking and nutrition education classes on Zoom and in-person, which seek to empower families with the knowledge and skills to select and use nutritious food on a limited budget.
The Nutrition and Health Education Team Offers:
- Cooking and Nutrition classes on Zoom or in-person from October through April.
- Recipe database on Beyond Hunger's website.
- Nutrition handouts and delicious recipes available at food distributions.
- Nutrition outreach with local community organizations.
- Free Blood Pressure checks during open pantry hours and healthcare referrals.
Register for one of our upcoming Nutrition Education Classes: Sign Up
This summer our Nutrition Education team is partnering with the Austin Town Farmers Market to offer tours and cooking demonstrations. Join us and learn about the great fresh and local produce you can purchase right in the Austin community. Market tours are on select Thursdays 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Look at the dates below to visit us there!
2025 Dates
- June 12
- July 10
- August 14
- September 11
- October 9
For more information contact Maria Delis, RD LDN, (708) 386-1324 ext. 1110.
Health Ambassadors Program
Our Health Ambassadors receive training focused on nutrition education, cooking skills, and diabetes management. They additionally receive a stipend to do outreach and host healthy eating and diabetes management workshops in Chicago's Austin community.
For more information email Bri Kellogg, DCN RDN LDN, Dietitian and Benefits Services Manager Brianne@GoBeyondHunger.org.
Shelly Panock MSN, RN, CNL, NEA-BC Unit Director Medical Surgical Unit Rush Oak Park Hospital