Calling all Chefs: You Can Help Us Nourish PA!

Situation
Our food banks need help…

Feeding Pennsylvania works directly with food banks across our state, fighting hunger on the front lines. They've identified a clear need for educational content — if the food banks had the money, they would invest heavily in resources to teach clients to use the healthy food they receive.

PA Eats is stepping up to help with this need. Through our Nourish PA recipe and video series, we're producing much-needed content. The recipes and videos we produce are used by Feeding Pennsylvania's Healthy Pantry Initiative and distributed through food banks.

Specific education challenges

When people go to food banks they often receive a CSA-like bundle of foods that they may not be familiar with using. When the choice of foods is outside their control, people understandably need help making the best use of what they get. If we don't teach them how to enjoy these healthy foods, it's a huge missed opportunity to improve well-being and healthy habits.

Here are some examples of foods typically distributed by food banks:

Dried

  • Cranberries
  • Lentils
  • Pinto beans
  • Split peas
  • Walnuts

Canned

  • Canned tomatoes
  • Canned salmon
  • Canned chickpeas
  • Canned white potatoes
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Canned peaches
  • Canned plums
  • Canned pumpkin
  • Canned beef
  • Canned pork
  • Peanut butter

Frozen

  • Chicken (bone-in)
  • Ground beef/turkey
  • Fish (pollck, catfish)
  • Pork products (various chops, loin, pulled)
  • Blueberries
  • Peaches
  • Greens

Produce

  • Apples
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Eggplant
  • Greens
  • Kale
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkin
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Turnips
  • Winter squash (butternut, spaghetti, acorn)
  • Zucchini / yellow squash

Opportunity
How chefs can lend a hand…

Chefs have the know-how to help folks bridge the educational gap. Even those who aren't food bank customers may be struggling to eat healthy on a budget. Your creativity and skill can make a huge difference for so many Pennsylvanians.

Create Recipes

Give food bank clients easy recipes, that are interesting, affordable and appealing. Show that eating healthy on limited resources can still be delicious!

Submit a Recipe

Share Skills

Make cooking accessible, empowering and encouraging. Help folks realize they can develop skills and create positive, healthy food experiences for their families.

Submit a Video

Impact
Your work makes a difference…

  • Your content will appear on PA Eats with a short bio and link.
  • Your content will be distributed to food banks by Feeding PA through their Healthy Pantry Initiative.
  • Recipe cards and handouts.
  • Online resources for home use.
  • Classes and educational events.