SAN ANTONIO – Low-income or limited-resource individuals and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, recipients in Bexar County can schedule free nutrition and food preparation classes within their communities, said a representative of the Better Living for Texans program.
Better Living for Texans is a free program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, explained Violeta Manzano, AgriLife Extension assistant for the program in Bexar County.
Manzano said classes are held at different facilities, depending on preference and availability.
“Some examples of the locations where we can hold these classes are schools, libraries, senior centers and community centers,” she said. “There is no specific number of attendees required, but if the facility expects a big crowd, they may decide it’s best to hold two separate classes. Once a class has been scheduled, flyers are usually posted near or inside that facility.”
In these classes, attendees learn more about nutrition, food safety and stretching food dollars, Manzano said. Both individuals and the community venues at which they may be held can request the classes.
“Classes not only provide practical instruction, they provide attendees with handouts and activities they can do at home,” she said. “For example, cooking demonstrations are incorporated to allow participants to observe cooking techniques, get nutrition tips and sample different recipes.”
She said the goal of the Better Living for Texans program is to provide families of limited resources with the knowledge and skills to have nutritional diets, develop proper food safety practices and maximize food resources.
“By participating in BLT programs, people can learn how to choose less expensive foods without sacrificing nutrition, make their food dollars last longer and make sure their family gets enough to eat,” Manzano said. “They can also learn how to read food labels, fix healthier meals and make their favorite foods with less fat and sugar.”
She said parents attending the classes will learn how to make healthy snacks for their children, plus learn recipes and cooking techniques they can share with others.
“Participants will also learn about the USDA’s MyPlate guidelines for nutrition as well as learn about food safety through proper food handling and preparation,” Manzano said.
For more information on scheduling a class, visit the Better Living for Texans website at http://blt.tamu.edu or contact Manzano at 210-467-6575 or violeta.manzano@ag.tamu.edu.
More information on AgriLife Extension in Bexar County can be found at http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu.
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