BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — February is Canned Food Month, and the Broome County Health Department wants to highlight just how nutritious canned foods can be.
Canned foods are often picked at their freshest and preserved right away, which helps keep their nutrients intact. Devin Link, a Public Health Educator, explains, “Canned food is just as healthy as fresh or frozen produce.”
The department has a program called the Food Service Guidelines Policy Initiative. It’s part of their Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Grant. This program helps local food pantries redesign their layouts to make healthier options easier to find.
By placing healthy foods at the front, people are more likely to choose them, similar to shopping in a grocery store. The grant also offers support for things like new shelving and refrigeration, making it easier to store these healthy items.
A good example of this program in action is at the United Presbyterian Church in Binghamton. Thanks to the grant, the church’s food pantry was able to reorganize its space. Healthy foods are now more visible and accessible.
Sherry Conklin, the kitchen coordinator at the church’s food pantry, shared, “The health department helped us by rearranging things so that healthy foods are the first thing people see, with snacks at the end.”
When shopping for canned foods, it’s wise to choose options that are low in sodium and added sugars. This way, you can enjoy their nutritional benefits while keeping grocery costs down.
Even though Canned Food Month is coming to an end, the efforts of the Broome County Health Department continue throughout the year. If you’re interested in learning more about potential grants for your community space, you can reach out via email to Devin.Link@broomecountyny.gov.
