By Jolena Haskie, Zuni FDPIR Outreach and Nutrition Specialist  

By Teresa Jackson, Oklahoma Tribal Engagement Partners (OKTEP) — Stillwater, OK 

Hesci (Hello)! Mvto (Thank you) to everyone who has attended Community Nutrition Champion Training (CNCT). A quick recap from the six CNCTs held in FY24. In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we trained 11 Champions from 9 Tribal Nations. In Phoenix, Arizona, we trained 11 Champions from 7 Tribal Nations. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, we trained 8 Champions from 5 Tribal Nations. In Portland, Oregon, we trained 10 Champions from 7 Tribal Nations. In Duluth, Minnesota, we trained 9 Champions from 7 Tribal Nations. In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we trained 10 Champions from 8 Tribal Nations. 

CNCT is a 2-day in-person training designed for non-nutrition professionals who work in FDPIR and engage with participants. Training topics include MyPlate, food labels, food safety, recipe modification, evaluation, and more.

Check out some photos from the FY24 CNCT trainings below! 

When Duluth Champions were asked, would you recommend this training to others in similar FDPIR positions to you? Champions responded they would. A few commented, “It goes over all the basics of nutrition ed and it shows you can provide nutrition ed pretty easily, and shows you don’t have to go too crazy when teaching” and “There is a lot of info that everyone who works in the program should know.” Other comments from Duluth and Sioux Falls Champions were: “I learned so much. I can’t wait to go back and do food demos;” “It was fun and hands-on. I enjoyed my time doing it;” and “This could benefit every employee in the program who has some sort of contact with clients.” 

In FY24, FDPIR programs could send staff to the training that worked best for their schedule, and we will be doing the same process in FY25. Learning from each other and connections made with FDPIR staff from across the nation has been a true blessing! I love hearing Champions share their tribal languages and tell us about their traditional foods. The many ideas for how nutrition education is implemented at different programs are inspiring.   

The remaining FY25 trainings are as follows: 

Need new resources to display or pass out to program participants? Check out the USDA Foods Nutrition Education Resource Library! 

Posters: Brighten the walls of your warehouse or grocery store with these posters.    

Recipe Cards: Need a recipe for an item in the food package? These colorful recipe cards come in a pack of 10 and many highlight traditional foods available in FDPIR.     

Magnets: Promote the use of food thermometers to check the internal temperature of fish, meats, poultry, eggs, and casseroles with this food safety magnet.    

Shelf-Talkers: Informative and fun, display these small signs next to items around your store. Each shelf-talker promotes healthy eating habits with FDPIR foods, such as eating whole grains, choosing colorful fruits and vegetables, cutting back on salt, and much more!     

Stickers: Are you “Nuts about Nutrition,” or want to encourage kids to “try something new?” These stickers are a great way to engage with children.  

Brochure: Community members may need more information about FDPIR. Use this tri-fold brochure to provide details about what is offered in the FDPIR food package, eligibility, and how to enroll.     

Please note that resources cannot be shipped to a P.O. Box and will take 2-3 weeks for delivery. If you have any questions, please contact us at USDAFoods@usda.gov. 

Oklahoma Tribal Engagement Partners (OKTEP) have made Community Nutrition Champion Training (CNCT) Resources available in a Google Drive. All handouts, lesson plans, presentations, recipes, videos and photos that are used in the training are now available online for download. Curious about putting on a cooking demonstration or brushing up on nutrition basics? These resources are ready to use, print, or bookmark!  

On December 9, 2024, USDA FNS staff and Deputy Under Secretary Cindy Long attended a Tribal Leaders Consultation in Las Vegas, Nevada, hosted by the Office of Tribal Relations (OTR). FNS appreciates the opportunity to work with Tribal leaders on many important FDPIR matters. This consultation covered topics such as the FDPIR Access and Parity Rule, presidential administrative transition, state SNAP agency coordination with ITOs, Integrated Food Management System (IFMS) updates, USDA DoD Fresh program updates, nutrition education training opportunities, and national warehouse operations. Additional information about this and future consultations can be found here. 

While in Las Vegas, USDA FNS and AMS staff also attended the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) Conference, held December 10-12, 2024. This annual conference is intended for Native producers, tribal and other agricultural leaders and advocates, federal agencies, funding foundations, and food businesses to connect and advance developments in food and agriculture. The conference highlighted approaches to honor and build tribal sovereignty, resource needs for Native producers, and policy and program solutions to foster equitable opportunities for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian (AIANNH) people in farming and food industries.