Nutrition and Food Safety
EAT Smart New York
What is EAT Smart New York?
EAT Smart New York is the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program. The
program offers classes to teach participants about food budgeting, meal
planning, nutrition, and food preparation. Nutrition Teaching Assistants
can visit homemakers in their homes to help them choose nutritious foods
and to offer help in making wise choices in feeding their infants and young
children.
Who can participate?
Anyone who is eligible to receive or is receiving food stamps is eligible.
Participants are often juggling multiple responsibilities of family and
returning to work.
Where do the NTA’s and homemakers meet?
Classes meet in churches, schools, and community centers where there
are cooking facilities adequate to accommodate a group. Individual homemakers
usually meet the NTA’s in their own homes, but other meeting places can
be arranged.
What happens in a ESNY class?
Classes are designed to help members learn how to budget limited food
dollars, prepare tasty, nutritious meals acceptable to their families in
a limited amount of time. Each class prepares a complete meal, eats together,
and cleans up. Participants each receive a computer printout of their dietary
intake indicating nutrients which are adequate and areas for nutritional
improvement.
How does one start the program?
To sign up for aESNY class contact a DSS case worker, WIC representative,
or call the Cornell Cooperrative Extension office. Young women interested
in one-to-one visits from an NTA should contact their TANF caseworker.
