Helping immigrants shop smarter for food

New refugee families arriving in the United States face many challenges, including finding jobs, housing and adapting to their new community. They also need to learn how to navigate the aisles of a grocery store, prepare meals with foods that may be unfamiliar to them and stretch their food budget to feed their family. Making healthy food choices is also important.

Nutrition educators with the University of Vermont Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program help income-eligible families learn to make smart decisions to eat healthy and ensure food security.

Several families from Ethiopia and Eritrea resettled in southern Vermont and began working with an Extension nutrition educator through the Ethiopian Community Development Council. Many families lived in refugee camps before arriving in Vermont, and life in the United States is a big adjustment. Through their relationship with Extension, which included home visits and grocery shopping experiences, they learned practices to not only save money while shopping for food but also make choices that lead to better overall health by eating more nutritious foods.

Project supported by Smith-Lever 3d funds.