The PA Healthy Pantry Initiative (HPI) is a project of Feeding Pennsylvania in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The goal of HPI is to increase access to healthy foods and beverages and chronic disease information to food pantry clients. The initiative also aims to support pantry clients in increasing their consumption of healthy foods through environmental changes as well as direct nutrition education such as healthy food tastings, demonstrations, recipes, classes, etc.
Adults that are living in food insecure households consume fewer servings of fruits, vegetables, and dairy weekly. This pattern of food intake has been linked to the development of high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. HPI aims to increase access to healthy items at food distributions to empower our neighbors to establish healthy eating habits, and ultimately reduce the burden of disease and increase the quality of life for Pennsylvanians who use food support systems.
10 partners of Philabundance participate in the Healthy Pantry Initiative, spanning across 4 counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania.