Healthy eating a matter of access, affordability, achievability

Many people know they could be eating healthier, but statistics show few of us are doing it for various reasons.

For some, it is a matter of choice or misinformation, but for those with food insecurity, it is a matter of survival.

The U.S. Department of Agricultre defines food insecurity as a household-level economic and social condition characterized by limited or uncertain access to adequate and nutritious food. In Indiana, more than 1 million Hoosiers — 1 in 7 — experience food insecurity.

The good news is healthy eating is not about perfection. Many believe healthy food is always expensive, but options such as frozen vegetables, beans, rice and seasonal produce can be affordable and nutritious.

Others think fresh food is always better than frozen or canned, when these alternatives can offer similar nutritional value with added convenience. There is also a belief that children will not eat healthy foods, but repeated exposure and family involvement can build acceptance.

Franciscan’s Community Health Improvement nutrition and food insecurity programs aim to address these misconceptions and more. A common goal unites our work: Helping individuals and families build healthier habits by making nutritious food more accessible, affordable and achievable.

For those with chronic diseases, Franciscan’s free, six-week Produce Prescription Program is there to help. Upon successful completion of the program, including a Cooking Matters course, participants receive produce vouchers for fresh fruit every month for six months.

Franciscan’s free FIT-Together Program takes a family-centered approach to health and wellness. The eight-week fitness program is intended for households with children age 8 to 15 and addresses the well-being of every participating family member, including children, siblings, parents and parental figures.

FIT-Together participants engage in individual and family physical activities and learn tips to maintain a healthy, active life along with cooking. Participants will also receive weekly meal kits for the household.

The new Mindful Market program is a partnership between Franciscan Health and Strack & Van Til Food Market aimed at helping consumers learn how to make the healthiest, most budget-friendly grocery decisions.

Free tours at Strack & Van Til grocery stores, led by a Franciscan Health educator and Strack & Van Til staff, offer tips on preparing for grocery shopping, navigating the store, choosing foods that support wellness, budgeting and utilizing store sales, coupons and loyalty programs as well as the Strack & Van Til app.

Together, these programs form a continuum of support from improving access to healthy foods to building cooking skills and encouraging sustainable family habits. They reflect a simple yet powerful idea: Everyone deserves the opportunity to eat well and live a healthy life.