Nutrition 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 the foods they love to eat.
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, which seek to empower families with the knowledge and skills to select and use nutritious food on a limited budget.
The Nutrition Education Team Offers:
- Cooking and Nutrition classes on Zoom
- Recipe database on Beyond Hunger's website
- Nutrition handouts and delicious recipes available at food distributions
- Nutrition outreach with local community organizations
Register for one of our upcoming Nutrition Education Classes: Sign Up
For more information contact Maria Delis, RD LDN, Nutrition Program Coordinator (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.