• 68% - want nutrition

information at

point-of-purchase

• 68% - want nutrition-

related programming

What is being done?

• Increased produce sourcing and distribution

• Increased agency and ACFB capacity for fresh,

healthy food

• Hired a Nutrition and Wellness Program

Manager

Up Next?

• Choosing Healthy Options Program (CHOP)

Choose Healthy Options Program

(CHOP) • Developed By Greater

Pittsburgh Food Bank

• Developed with the unique needs and resources of FB’s and clients in mind

• Allows food banks to use a simple ranking to assign a score based on the nutritional content of food (CHOP score)

• Allows for comparison of “like” foods. Adds points for nutrients to be encouraged and nutrients to be discouraged

• Agencies can use the CHOP score to guide purchases and educate clients

• Helps FB’s to have a snapshot of food received, food in inventory and food distributed based on nutrition

Choose Healthy Options Program

(CHOP)

Increase availability of healthy food choices

Education

Increase consumption of healthier foods

Identify healthy foods for purchase and

promote distribution

CHOP

Who benefits

from CHOP?

ACFB

ACFB partner

agencies

Clients

Our communities

• Grains and Pasta

• Cereal

• Snacks and Dessert

• Vegetables

• Fruit

• Beverages

• Dairy

• Animal Protein

• Vegetable Protein

• Meals

CHOP

Categories

Choose Frequently

Choose Moderately

Choose Sparingly

Other CHOP symbols

• Minimal Contribution (MC)

– Food that is not expected to contribute significantly to the diet.

– Ex: Mustard, Ketchup, Spices

• Not ranked (NR)

– Food we are unable to rank or choose not to rank

– Ex: Food Drive donations, Mixed pallets

• Non-food (NF)

– Diapers, Toilet paper

Why the focus on nutrition?

• Adults

– Obesity in women

– Diabetes

– Heart Disease

– Depression and fatigue

– Poor overall health

• Children

– Low birth weight

– Anemia from iron

deficiency

– Colds and stomachaches

– Poor academic

performance

– Behavioral problems

– Developmental issues

– Poor health

Key Takeaways

• There are foods we should consume daily and

foods that we should only consume

occasionally

• Our health, for better or for worse, can be

influenced by our food choices

• We can all learn how to make healthy food

choices