Knowing how to shop healthy on a budget is a critical skill for food security and health! As the lead partner for Share Our Strength in North Carolina, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle works with community organizations across the state to expand the reach of the Cooking Matters and Cooking Matters at the Store programs, providing Satellite partners with the resources to teach this healthy cooking curriculum on their own! On January 17th, we reached 43 individuals through 6 Cooking Matters at the Store grocery store tours at the Food Lion location on Eastern Ave. in Fayetteville. Participants in the tour were referred from Cumberland County WIC, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, and the Cumberland County Department of Social Service. We look forward to continuing to partner with these agencies to teach healthy shopping and cooking skills to more families in need!
At these events, participants practice their healthy shopping skills using a $10 Food Lion gift card. They must create a meal for a family of four for just $10 that includes all of the major My Plate food groups. With the help of volunteer Chef Shawn Pratt, participant Mary Barfield, pictured above, achieved a “Perfect 10,” ringing up at exactly $10 for a meal for a family of four with every part of My Plate in her cart!