YCP - Nutrition Initiative for Children and Families (NICF)

YCP DIRECT

Yorkville Common Pantry promotes healthy lifestyle and nutrition education to children and adults through the Nutrition Initiative for Children and Families (NICF). Bi-lingual nutrition education and cooking skills workshops are held both on-site and at community organizations around East Harlem. The NICF Coordinator utilizes recipes that incorporate items distributed during Pantry program and encourage clients to use Pantry staples to create nutritious, satisfying meals. Emphasis is placed on the nutritional value of the fruits and vegetables to ensure that participants learn about the vitamins and minerals and their impact on healthy living and longevity. In addition, the children’s classes take field trips to local farmers' markets and a New York State farm in Columbia County to enhance their learning experience. In FY 11, NICF ran 38 adult workshops and 148 children’s classes.

*NICF’s curriculum courtesy of Food Bank For NYC

YCP Program Goals & Outcomes:  Nutrition Initiative for Children and Families (NICF)

FY11 Goal:  Provide nutrition education to at least 1,400 adults

Outcome:  A total of 2,193 participants -- 1,489 adults and 704 seniors

New Goal for FY12:  80% or more of participants will show increased knowledge, changes in attitudes, intentions and behaviors about healthier eating habits through changes reflected in the pre/post evaluation.

FY11 Goal:  Children enrolled in classes will make at least one field trip to farmers market or working farm

Outcome:  83 children traveled to local Farmers Markets and 38 children and parents traveled to Katchkie Farm, Columbia County, NY

New Goal for FY12:  80% or more of participants will show increased knowledge, changes in attitude, intentions and behaviors about healthier eating habits through changes reflected in the pre/post evaluation