Nutrition in North Carolina

     It seems like nutrition is being discussed by everyone now days!  More and more people are realizing that you can't take nutrition lightly. Lately we've been hearing about all types of nutritional concerns from obesity to vitamin D deficiency.  What is very concerning is that to some the US is the "land of plenty" but yet we have such huge nutritional concerns.  Having an abundant food supply does not necessarily mean that it is a healthy and nutritious food supply! 
     North Carolina has implemented several programs to help educate not only families but those that care for families. They offer educational programs to teach the basics of nutrition to programs to reimburse childcare providers for serving health meals to the children in their care.  I recently heard of a grant that was available this summer for residents of the local town of Mooresville.  The grant was given to anyone that was willing to fix healthy cold meals for the citizens of the town. You had to provide all three meals daily. One local woman used a daycare center's kitchen to use the grant to provide 3 meals a day for the families of her neighborhood. Each child that came through also got to take home an additional healthy snack pack with two cartons of milk.  This program was one to help the community help its self!  I think that this was a wonderful idea but it does take someone willing to give back to the community.
       Below is a few informational links to NC websites that offer an interactive nutritional label that teaches you how to read food labels, recipe links, and other helpful information. It seems lots of states have these programs but most citizens don't even know they are there! 

Interactive Nutrition Label:  http://www.myeatsmartmovemore.com/NutritionLabel.html  

Healthy Recipes:  http://www.myeatsmartmovemore.com/Recipes.html

http://www.fruitsandveggiesnc.com/index.html

http://www.nutritionnc.com/snp/index.htm

http://www.fitfamilync.com/

Of course this varies from state to state but most states have federally funded programs available. ENJOY!