Tag Archives: Comprando Rico y Sano

How our Affiliates and other community-based organizations are helping their communities get the food assistance they need

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healthy eating | health and wellness | Comprando Rico y Sano | SNAP | SNAP food assistance

Photo: iStock

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a vital program for more than 40 million Americans, including 10 million low-income Latinos, who struggle to put food on the table every day.

But just a few months ago, this program was under attack when the House took up passage of the farm bill, a sweeping agriculture bill that includes funding for the program.

Thanks to the work of concerned citizens and dedicated advocates we were able to get a win for working families last December, as a bipartisan agreement worked to protect SNAP for millions. But another threat looms in the proposed changes to the public charge rule.

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How data is being used to fight for health equity for all

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Even though we might not always realize it, data is all around us. And although there are definitely some dangers to the overwhelming amount of data that is out there, it can also be a powerful tool for creating change and ensuring health equity.

National programs like UnidosUS’s Comprando Rico y Sano—a promotor de salud-led initiative that addresses food insecurity and instills healthy eating and shopping habits among Latinos—use data to improve knowledge and behaviors around healthy shopping and healthy eating. This data helps us and our subgrantee Affiliates to reduce hunger among the Latino community, through culturally sensitive nutrition education and SNAP enrollment assistance.

Justin Rivas, Community Networks Specialist at County Health Rankings and Roadmaps | Data health equity

Justin Rivas, Network Strategist at County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, discussed a data tool that allows people to look up their county or state and find a breakdown of health statistics in their area.

Currently implemented by 26 community-based organizations across 13 states and the District of Columbia, promotores de salud offer various nutrition education activities, which are complemented with SNAP education and enrollment assistance for eligible Latinos, helping them maximize their monthly benefits for healthier nutrition. It’s all part of our work to ensure health equity for all Latinos.

This month, we convened these promotores de salud in Phoenix, Arizona, where, among other things, we discussed a data tool that allows people to look up their county or state and find a breakdown of health statistics in their area. One of the key aspects of the data are the breakdowns of percentages for different racial and ethnic groups.

“Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible,” said Justin Rivas, Network Strategist at County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, who presented the tool. “The way you tailor the work you’re doing—that’s what health equity is.”

The County Health Rankings and Roadmap program is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

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The value of SNAP: Tackling food insecurity and hunger in America

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With the holiday spirit in full swing and the end of the year nearing, a sense of giving, gratitude, and reflection is more likely to be on our hearts and minds. Many of us will soon gather around a table full of food. Yet, it’s important to remember that for some, a table full of food won’t be the reality.

SNAP | Healthy Families | Comprando Rico y Sano

Photo: iStock

The reality is that too many Americans live with food insecurity. Food insecurity, hunger, and inadequate nutrition affect our physical health, but also impact our emotional and social well-being, adding to the stress of not being able to provide a basic need for one’s family.

Adults who experience food insecurity are at an increased risk of developing chronic conditions and diseases (obesity, diabetes, heart disease), and are more likely to need medical treatment and hospital readmissions. For children, being hungry affects their ability to grow, learn, and ultimately thrive. In 2016, 15.6 million U.S. households (12.3%) were food insecure, with Latino families disproportionately affected (18.5%).

Thankfully, for the last 40 years, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been a vital resource for families that find themselves in tough times and experiencing hunger.

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5 tips to get you and your family to eat healthier this summer

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By Maria Y. Diaz, Health Equity Fellow at UnidosUS

Comprando Rico y Sano, led by community health workers or promotores de salud, is a national program with the goal of reducing hunger and food insecurity and instilling healthy shopping and eating habits among Latinos through nutrition education and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment assistance. Developed by UnidosUS, the program is entering its fifth year and is currently implemented in 26 communities nationwide, thanks to the continuous support of the Walmart Foundation.

Healthy eating

In 2017, Comprando Rico y Sano made a positive impact in 24 communities across 11 states and the District of Columbia, resulting in an increase of 47% in fruit intake, 55% in vegetable intake, and 63% in healthy meals prepared at home, among program participants. Additionally, 25,636 eligible Latinos were provided with enrollment assistance in SNAP and 73,602 Latinos were reached with face-to-face nutrition education and SNAP information.

With the academic school year at an end and long summer days, our promotores de salud often hear from parents who sometimes find it challenging to manage their children’s eating habits during the summer. UnidosUS’s Comprando Rico y Sano encourages families to be healthier with a few tips that are sure to benefit the entire family.

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5 consejos para que usted y su familia coman más sano este verano

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Por María Y. Díaz, miembro del equipo de Salud de UnidosUS

Comprando Rico y Sano es un programa nacional cuya meta es reducir el hambre y la inseguridad alimentaria, así como inculcar hábitos de compra y alimentación saludables entre las familias latinas  a través de la educación nutricional y la ayuda para inscribirse en el Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP, por sus siglas en inglés).

El programa, desarrollado por UnidosUS e implementado a través de su red de organizaciones afiliadas y  promotores de salud, está en su quinto año de implementación y actualmente en 26 comunidades del país, gracias al apoyo continuo de la Fundación Walmart.

En 2017, Comprando Rico y Sano fue implementado en 24 comunidades, abarcando 11 estados y el Distrito de Columbia. Los resultados del programa muestran que ha tenido un gran impacto entre los participantes. Por ejemplo, hubo aumento de un  47% en el consumo de frutas, del 55% en el consumo de vegetales y del 63% en la cantidad de comidas saludables preparadas en casa, entre los participantes del programa. Asimismo, 25,636 latinos elegibles se les proporcionó información e asistencia con la inscripción a SNAP y 73,602 latinos fueron alcanzados en persona a través de educación nutricional e información sobre el programa SNAP.

Durante los meses de verano, nuestros promotores de salud escuchan de los padres que a veces les es difícil manejar los hábitos alimenticios de sus hijos. Aquí tenemos unos cinco consejos para que usted y su familia puedan comer más saludable este verano.

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How to avoid uninvited guests at your summer outing

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By Archie Magoulas, Technical Information Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

In the summertime, as the weather begins to heat up, our microscopic friends, called bacteria, begin to make uninvited appearances at our cookouts, picnics and even camping trips. Sometimes these little friends can be helpful, but other times, they just make you sick.

Bacteria will grow anywhere they have access to nutrients and water. Microorganisms that cause disease are called pathogens. When certain pathogens enter the food supply, they can cause foodborne illness.summer food safety

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Cómo evitar que las bacterias lleguen sin invitación a su paseo veraniego

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Por: Archie Magoulas, Especialista en Información Técnica, FSIS USDA

En el verano, mientras el clima comienza a ser más caluroso, nuestros amigos microscópicos, llamados bacterias, comienzan a hacer apariciones sin invitación a nuestras actividades al aire libre; como por ejemplo en las parrilladas, picnics y hasta si acampamos.  A veces estos amigos microscópicos pueden ser beneficiosos, pero otras veces, simplemente nos enferman.

 

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