Eat Smart New York provides youth and their families with resources to make healthy food choices and choose physically active lifestyles.

Funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education initiative, SNAP-Ed, this program delivers nutrition education workshops for youth and adults coupled with broader policy, systems, and environmental strategies for behavior change. The program has transformed sites throughout our target neighborhoods into hubs for healthy eating and living in the community.

Putting nutrition within reach

Nutritionists conduct healthy eating and cooking classes for kids in Children’s Aid after-school programs and for adult caregivers and community members at several sites. Kids explore trying new fruits and vegetables and prepare delicious, fun, and healthy recipes to share with each other and their families. Adult classes and recipes mirror those implemented with youth to encourage conversation around healthy eating extending outside the classrooms. 

Eat Smart New York moves beyond the classroom – nutritionists host walks to nearby farmers’ markets to connect families to the freshest produce available and to help guide people to smart purchases to better feed their families. Eat Smart New York also facilitates a broader culture of health and wellness education within Children’s Aid communities by supporting the existence of wellness councils, community gardens, and providing access to healthy food. 

Food Box

The Go!Healthy Food Box program  provides access to affordable, high-quality produce for Children’s Aid communities in Harlem, the South Bronx, and Staten Island. Individuals can purchase a pre-packed bag of locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables – bags cost only $10 yet contain nearly $25-30 worth of farmers’ market-quality produce. Participants can use cash, debit/credit, Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), or Health Bucks coupons (incentives distributed by the NYC Health Department for fresh, local produce) to make purchases. 

Food boxes not only are a great value, they offer convenience: distributions are right at Children’s Aid sites during pick-up times. Finally, to help inspire participants and provide ideas to make good use of their fresh fruit and vegetables, Go!Healthy nutritionists provide cooking demonstrations, tastings, and nutrition education around storing and preparation of the bag’s contents.