Healthy Servings for Seniors is a program designed to provide nutrition education for Rhode Island's underserved senior citizens, as well as provide them with opportunities and incentives to buy fresh, healthy food. This summer, we're working with Melissa Holmes, Community Nutrition Educator at URI, and senior citizens in the communities of Warwick, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket to provide both education and delicious, nutritious food!

This is our first year of Healthy Servings for Seniors. The inaugural year is possible thanks to the Vitamin Grant from the State of RI Office of the Attorney General.

2011 Markets: Where to Participate

How It Works: A Curriculum for Eating Fresh

There will be six class sessions at each location throughout the summer and fall, each consisting of an educational talk from Melissa and a cooking demonstration with samples featuring produce from local farms. After attending three class sessions, low-income participants will become eligible to receive a $15 bonus, distributed in the form of $1 Fresh Bucks, which can be redeemed for grocery items at participating farmers markets. One class session at each location will feature a visit from a farmer, offering an opportunity for participants to spend their Bonus Bucks without having to travel too far from home. To wrap up the season, participants are invited on a field trip to a nearby farmers market for yet another opportunity to redeem their Bonus Bucks!

• Week 1: Fruit and Vegetables * Choosing a Variety
• Week 2: Fruit and Vegetables * Amount
• Week 3: Food Safety Part 1 (Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill)
• Week 4: Food Safety Part 2 (Proper handling techniques)
• Week 5: Food Sampling * Farmer Visits
• Week 6: Fruit & Vegetable Bingo

Goals

Healthy Servings for Seniors will expand upon Farm Fresh Rhode Island's current nutrition education outreach. This program will improve the health of Rhode Island's seniors and decrease the prevalence of obesity by:

1. Increasing knowledge of nutrition for seniors
2. Offering Rhode Island seniors the tools necessary to make healthier choices while shopping for food
3. Raising awareness of Farmers' Markets in these communities as a place to purchase affordable, high quality fruits and vegetables.
4. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption

Since its inception in 2004, Farm Fresh Rhode Island has worked to achieve these four goals by managing farmers' markets in low-income and/or food insecure areas, accepting Food Stamp / SNAP benefits and WIC Farmers' Market coupons at these markets, and partnering with state agencies and area universities to offer healthy cooking demonstrations at the markets.