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Welcome to the second edition of Steele County Public Health's monthly newsletter! This month, we are observing National Nutrition Month® which is an annual campaign established in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, we encourage everyone to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits. Below, you will find information about Steele County Public Health's WIC program, a valuable list of food resources for Steele County residents, some healthy eating tips from federal and state health resources, and information about creating a nutritious emergency food supply. As always, feel free to share this newsletter with your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family. Click the buttons below to visit our website or watch the latest episode of Health Talk, our monthly talk show where we discuss public health topics.
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The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program helps pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children eat well, learn about nutrition, and stay healthy. Through this program, SCPH staff provide no-cost nutrition education and supplemental foods for pregnant or breastfeeding women and for infants and children up to 5 years of age.
Eligibility is based on income and medical need. To learn more or apply online, please visit this website. For more information, feel free to call SCPH at (507) 444-7650.
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Steele County's Food Resources
In this month's edition of Health Link, we are highlighting our comprehensive list of Steele County Community Food Resources! Below you can find additional information about two food shelves serving Steele County residents:
The Community Pathways Marketplace, located at 155 Oakdale St, Owatonna, MN 55060, is a welcoming resource for people dealing with food insecurity. The Marketplace is certified as a SuperShelf, creating a more grocery store-like experience for customers, including access to healthy and culturally appropriate foods. The Marketplace is open on Mondays & Wednesdays, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Tuesdays, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM & 5:00 - 8:00 PM, and Thursdays & Fridays, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM.
The Marketplace also has a monthly delivery service for people in Steele County who cannot access the facility. Contact the Marketplace Delivery Coordinator Troy at (507) 455-2991.
Stay up to date by following Community Pathways on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, call (507) 455-2991 or visit their website.
The Ellendale Area Food Shelf, located at the Ellendale United Methodist Church, 200 6th St N, Ellendale, MN 56026, is open on Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:30 PM.
If you would like to make a monetary donation to the Ellendale Area Food Shelf, please mail it to P.O. Box 295, Ellendale, MN or call the Methodist Church at (507) 684-2731 to schedule an appointment to drop off food at the food shelf.
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Healthy Eating Tips
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a healthy diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins like beans, eggs, nuts, seafood, and poultry, while limiting added sugars, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Additionally, experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommend eating 2½ cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit per day (based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet).
The Minnesota Office of Statewide Improvement Initiatives has also compiled Healthy Eating resources within the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) context area known as MN Eats, which is focused on healthy eating. If you are looking for support starting or expanding upon healthy eating initiatives in Steele County, please reach out to your local SHIP Coordinator, Ethan Rindfleisch at Ethan.Rindfleisch@SteeleCountyMN.gov or (507) 444-7645.
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Creating a Nutritious Emergency Food Supply
When creating an emergency food supply for your household, you'll want to consider choosing nonperishable items that are easy to prepare. However, nutrition is another important factor to consider, especially during an emergency. Check out these tips from a CDC article titled "Creating a Nutritious Emergency Food Supply":
- Include fruits and vegetables
- Look for lower sodium foods
- Store 1 gallon of water per person per day for hydration and sanitation
- Include protein (canned fish, chicken, beans)
- Avoid added sugars
For more information and additional resources about emergency food and water supplies, visit Ready.gov/Food.
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 This Month on Health Talk
Last month on Health Talk, we explored the topic of heart health in observance of American Heart Month.
Tune in on Wednesday, March 13th, as we celebrate National Nutrition Month® by learning about informed food choices, healthy eating habits, and Steele County Public Health's WIC program!
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Get your baby's weight checked, meet other parents of newborns, get your questions answered about breastfeeding, and receive up-to-date information on your baby's growth and development!
This free clinic meets every week on Tuesdays, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM at Roosevelt Community School, 122 McKinley St E, Owatonna, MN 55060. For more information, call (504) 444-7900. No appointment necessary!
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Steele County Public Health (SCPH) is dedicated to preventing disease, promoting wellness, and protecting the health of Steele County residents through a variety of services such as family health programs, immunization clinics, and home health care. SCPH also provides resources for radon and water testing, health education, and emergency preparedness to realize its vision of Healthy People in Healthy Communities. |
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