November 3, 2009

Almost half of all American children, and 90% of African-American children, will rely on food stamps at some point during their childhood, the latest "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine" reports.

And this isn't a consequence of recent economic circumstances; the study aggregated three decades of data to arrive at these numbers, which indicate a true crisis in our communities.

In light of the fact that the average household receives a monthly benefit of only $222, the efforts of groups working to counter the notion that eating healthfully is prohibitively expensive becomes even more important.

One such group is Food Hero, part of the Oregon State University Nutrition Education Program (NEP). Food Hero offers families and individuals affordable, fun, and easy ways to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their diets, both through its website and through public outreach at events around Oregon.

Its website, www.foodhero.org, includes recipes, tips for buying fruits and vegetables on a budget, and fun ways to engage kids in preparing and enjoying healthy meals.