Maine SNAP-Ed
Through Maine SNAP-Ed, Healthy Acadia provides evidence-based nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions to people living on low incomes across Hancock County and Washington County. We offer classes in nutrition, healthy cooking, and grocery shopping on a limited budget in settings accessible to SNAP-eligible individuals, such as schools, childcare and Head Start facilities, community centers, food pantries, farmers' markets, and more.
Classes are fun and engaging, led by Healthy Acadia’s trained nutrition professionals, with food tastings and FREE materials to take home.
Pick a Better Snack. A series of eight monthly lessons for students in grades K-3 that focuses on eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for overall health. Each lesson includes nutrition education, a food tasting of a fruit or vegetable, and a physical activity.
10 Tips Nutrition Series for Teens and Adults. A series fo four lessons following the theme of Choose MyPlate or Eating Better on a Budget. Sessions engage participants with food tastings along with USDA’s tip sheets and recipes.
Cooking Matters. FOR TEENS, FOR ADULTS. FOR FAMILIES. A series of six interactive cooking instruction classes led by a trained nutrition educator. Separate series are available geared toward teens, adults, parents, and families. Participants of all ages learn to prepare simple, healthy, and affordable meals at home. In each class, participants cook a delicious meal and eat together, then receive ingredients to make it again at home! Participants also receive a recipe book upon completion of the class.
Cooking Matters at the Store. An interactive grocery store tour, grocery store tour event, or pop-up store tour, led by a trained nutrition educator. Participants receive shopping tips, practice reading labels, and compare pricing to learn how to buy healthy foods on a limited budget. Upon completion of the grocery store tour, participants receive a $10 grocery store gift card with a healthy challenge.
This initiative is federally funded through the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) grant, which is held by the State of Maine and administered statewide by the University of New England (UNE). UNE has contracted with Healthy Acadia to implement the nutrition education objectives across Hancock County and Washington County in community-specific efforts through our comprehensive, on-the-ground network.
For more information and interactive tools to support you and your family in eating healthfully on a budget, click here. To learn about nutrition education programs that are tailored for specific interests and age groups, click here.
Check out a sampling of our healthy recipe demos on Healthy Acadia’s YouTube channel.
To learn more about nutrition education classes and events, or to share ideas for locations to offer nutrition and cooking classes to low-income community members please contact:
In Hancock County:
Or call 207-667-7171
In Washington County:
Or call 207-255-3741
In accordance with federal civil rights laws and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Programs that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and programs HHS directly operates are also prohibited from discrimination under federal civil rights laws and HHS regulations.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS INVOLVING USDA PROGRAMS
USDA provides federal financial assistance for many food security and hunger reduction programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and others. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) (found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office) or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
1. mail: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 1320 Braddock Place, Room 334, Alexandria, VA 22314; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. phone: (833) 620-1071; or
4. email: FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov.
For any other information regarding SNAP issues, persons should either contact the USDA SNAP hotline number at (800) 221-5689, which is also in Spanish, or call the state information/hotline numbers (click the link for a listing of hotline numbers by state); found online at: SNAP hotline.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.