SNAP-ED Impact Report 2019
SNAP-ED WORKS for Montana 2019
Montana State University Extension
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education
THE CHALLENGE
72%
of Montana youth do not participate in enough aerobic activity to meet guidelines
92%
of Montana adults do not meet the vegetable intake recommendations
63%
of Montana adults are overweight or obese
72%
of American Indian adults are overweight or obese
26%
of Montana Children ages 10-17 are overweight or obese
1 in 9 Montanans face hunger/food insecurity
THE SOLUTION
TEACH
COLLABORATE
EMPOWER
THE RESULTS
ADULTS
47%
ate fruit more often
48%
ate veggies more often
66%
were more physically active
72%
improved food management practices
82%
improved food safety practices
YOUTH
49%
improved physical activity behaviors
55%
improved food safety practices
88%
made healthier food choices
After learning about the benefits of eating whole grains in a SNAP-Ed class, a third grade student began choosing whole grains for breakfast every morning. The student's mother reported having a challenging time trying to encourage her kids to healthier breakfast foods, but was excited to see her daughter choosing oatmeal every morning as a result of participating in a series of 6 nutrition education classes.
-Nutrition Educator
SNAP-ED BY THE NUMBERS
- 21,509 Montanans reached with education and/or environmental changes that assist in making the healthy choice the easy choice
- 4,169 visits to buyeatlivebetter.org in 2019
- 17,531 pinterest views
- 19,260 facebook views
- 193 Partnerships with organizations where montanans eat, live, learn, work, play, and shop
- 99 Policy, system, environment, or promotional changes to support health
- 5,371 Montanans reached with nutrition and physical activity classes
- 523 adults and
- 4,848 children
PROGRAM IMPACTS
- 99 nutrition and physical activity improvements in SNAP-Ed counties or reservations
- 27 school based Harvest of the Month partnerships that promote healthy Montana foods
- 11 food bank partnerships that increase capacity for healthy choices
- 9 farmers' markets with increased access to and promotion of fruits and vegetables
In Northern Montana, SNAP-Ed partnered with educators to teach youth how to grow and prepare healthy produce.
Youth nutrition classes were paired with a school garden program. Students enjoyed
learning how to prepare the soil and plant the seeds. The students then learned to
how to properly harvest their tomatoes, zucchinis, dill, basil, and beans, which they
used to prepare fresh salsa.
-Nutrition Educator
Counties served by SNAP-Ed*: Lincoln, Flathead, Glacier, Toole, Hill, Blain, Phillips, Roosevelt, Big Horn, Ravalli, Deer Lodge, Silver Bow, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Cascade, Mineral, Sanders, Lake.
*all other Montana counties are indirectly served by SNAP-Ed;
In Southwestern Montana, SNAP-Ed helped increase healthy food access and consumption.
SNAP-Ed facilitated a multi-agency partnership that resulted in the acceptance of
SNAP dollars at a farmers' market that serves several low-income neighborhoods. One
shopper learned about this opportunity while attending a SNAP-Ed nutrition class,
and was excited to report that she was better able to access healthy, affordable food
as a result. This partnership has also benefited local farmers.
-Nutrition Educator
In Southern Montana, SNAP-Ed collaborated with a food bank to better meet the needs of the community.
Following a Healthy Food Pantry Assessment, SNAP-Ed helped the food bank develop short
and long-term goals for improvement, such as adding garden space, volunteer training
practices, and nutrition-focused signage in both English and the indigenous language.
-Nutrition Educator
