Food and Nutrition Service

Introduction The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.”1 Nearly 12% of people living in Virginia are considered food insecure, and these rates are even higher in the southeastern portion of the state. The cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth have food insecurity rates close to 19%.2 Many of these individuals are children, and the effects of childhood hunger are often detrimental on a child’s development. Their growth may be hindered, academics may suffer, and overall well-being may be compromised. 3 Another side effect from childhood hunger is one…

The United States’ Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) nutrition assistance programs are set in place in order to “help reduce food insecurity, improve nutrition and reduce obesity” in order to ensure that children and families, alike, are able to have access to healthy diets in both, schools and child and adult care facilities, and also ensuring that families hold the funds to purchase food (United States Department of Agriculture 8). Within a year, one in four Americans will utilize at least…

and ensure food safety for consumers. USDA aid includes distributing price supports and other subsidies to farmers, inspecting food processed at agricultural facilities, working to expand overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products, providing financing to expand job opportunities and improve housing, utilities, and infrastructure in rural America, and providing food assistance and nutrition education (Allgov.com). The USDA has five specific areas of interest that work as an organism to…

communication, nutrition education, human and environmental health, and science is what brought me to pursue dietetics. The academic and professional training required to attain the registered dietitian nutritionist credential makes dietetics a leading profession. I want to be a leader in nutrition education and care, which is why the career of registered dietitian nutritionist is right for me. Altogether, my experiences and interests explain that I want to enter the dietetics profession because…

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to end hunger in North Texas. As part of Feeding America, a nationwide food bank network, the NTFB accomplishes this mission through over 250 Partner Agencies at more than 1,000 locations across 13 counties. Several departments are responsible for coordinating the variety of programs and services that contribute to NTFB mission. Every program or service involves connecting low income North Texans to nutritious food,…

In present day the USDA administers programs to help American farmers and ensure food safety for consumers. USDA aid includes distributing price supports and other subsidies to farmers, inspecting food processed at agricultural facilities, working to expand overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products, providing financing to expand job opportunities and improve housing, utilities, and infrastructure in rural America, and providing food assistance and nutrition education (Allgov.com). The USDA…

foreign agricultural services, rural development, food nutrition, and consumer services, food safety, natural resources and environment, marketing and regulatory programs, research, education and economics are all areas specialized by the USDA (FY 2015). Arising from Abraham Lincoln’s desire to revive farmers from the outbreak of ravages from the Civil War in 1862, the ultimate mission of the USDA was to develop and execute federal policies on farming, agriculture trade and food with the best…

Healthy food choices can make a big difference in the life of a family, ensuring that babies, children and their families have the nutrition they need to learn and grow. Buncombe County Health and Human Services wants people to know that they may qualify for a program called WIC (Women, Infants and Children) which provides support to families to help make ends meet while buying healthy foods for their family. WIC is a comprehensive nutrition education program that helps pregnant mothers,…

learned basic nutrition concepts that guided my food choices and enabled me to maintain a healthy weight. This experience inspired me to increase the depth of my knowledge and earn a degree in nutrition and food science from Wayne State. I aspire become a registered dietitian to promote nutrition education in the community in order to address health concerns and encourage behavior changes that will ultimately improve quality of life for many. As a registered dietitian, I would apply what I…

Healthy People 2020 is a campaign launched by the Department of Health and Human Services, with a focus to improve the health of the nation. Every ten years, they identify new or existing health issues and find ways of improving them. A few of their missions are to educate the public on the current health issues and how they can prevent them, and to provide the public with specific goals and objectives for each major health issue. Since obesity has been a growing health issue for the past few…