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Each week during National Nutrition Month, MyPlate will provide resources for specific life stages while encouraging consumers to eat healthy at any age.
Proposed Updates to the School Nutrition Standards
Based on the latest nutrition science and extensive feedback from our partners, FNS is proposing updates to the school nutrition standards in a few key areas.
The temporary boost to SNAP benefits, known as emergency allotments, will end nationwide after the February 2023 issuance. These Q&As can help answer questions about this and other changes to SNAP benefits.
FNS has a long history of helping to end hunger, reduce diet-related diseases, and accelerate health equity. This report explains who we are, who we serve and highlights key work underway.
The White House released a National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. USDA is a key player in these efforts, touching each of the five pillars.
USDA continues to work closely with the White House, HHS and FDA to support families through this challenging time and to bring to a swift end to the shortage.
FNS understands the challenges the end of the PHE may bring to our program participants. As we transition back to normal operations, we remain fully committed to ensuring all eligible families receive the support they need and deserve.
Our mission is to increase food security and reduce hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.
Who to contact
Most nutrition assistance programs funded by FNS are administered at the state, territory, tribal, or local levels. Select your state, territory, or tribal organization from the dropdowns below to find contact information
Assistance for People of All Ages
Our 15 nutrition assistance programs touch the lives of one in four Americans each year, from infants to the elderly. Taken together, these programs comprise America's nutrition safety net, ensuring that no eligible American goes hungry.
Our 15 nutrition assistance programs touch the lives of one in four Americans each year, from infants to the elderly. Taken together, these programs comprise America's nutrition safety net, ensuring that no eligible American goes hungry.
Our nutrition programs supplement the diets of babies, young children and women with healthy foods, while offering guidance with other needs, including nutrition education and health care referrals.
Assistance for Children from Kindergarten to 12th grade
FNS partners with state agencies to help fight hunger and obesity among school-age children by administering several year-round programs that provide healthy meals.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
USDA's food distribution programs support consumers and American agricultural producers through purchases of 100% American-grown and -produced foods for use by schools and institutions.
Our child nutrition programs help to ensure that children have access to nutritious meals and snacks in schools, summer programs, childcare centers and homes, and afterschool programs.
The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers.
In lieu of SNAP, the NAP block grants provide food assistance to low-income households in the U.S. territories of the Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the CNMI.
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@USDANutrition #DYK? SNAP benefits can be used online in 49 states and the District of Columbia. We know how important it is to make it convenient for participants to use their benefits, so we continue to work with our partners to add more states and retailers. https://t.co/x57dlYZXjEhttps://t.co/qjKPUVu8OU
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@USDANutrition
SNAP E&T programs are a crucial part of a broader job training strategy, but it won’t alone solve the labor market challenges we’re seeing across the country. That’s why we have workforce commitments across all our programs and within our own agency as well. https://t.co/7jnCkwVTcV
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RT @SecVilsack: Increasing access to healthy school meals is key to help the leaders of the future achieve their full potential. https://t.…
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FNS’ Senior Advisor for External Engagement Alberto Gonzalez speaks to 400 @MassWIC local agency staff on improving health equity through #WIC. https://t.co/QjT3SWxNGw
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RT @SecVilsack: SNAP is a critical resource for millions of Americans - our friends and neighbors - and @USDA is committed to supporting it.
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RT @HealthGov: Across all cultures, and at any age or budget, there are foods 🍜 and beverages 🥛 that can fit within the #DietaryGuidelines…
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RT @MSUCRFS: Funded by @USDANutrition, Illinois Public Health Institute and state leads in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan will form the L…
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RT @foodsafetygov: Spring is in the air, and it is a great time to boost your diet with some fresh salad greens. If using greens that are n…
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RT @SNAP_Ed: Gardening can be an affordable way to eat more produce! Now’s a great time to start planning your spring garden! https://t.co/…
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@USDANutrition #DYK: All households with a child who was approved to receive free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP) within the last 12 months is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program. https://t.co/W3F4JqghBghttps://t.co/oUo6C0hGvH
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RT @FoodGatherers: We were honored to have Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for the @USDA's Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, give…
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RT @MyPlate: Chop extra. When chopping up veggies for a meal, chop more than you need. Take the extra and freeze them for later. The next t…
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RT @SecVilsack: Congratulations to New Mexico on becoming the fifth state in the nation to enact universal free school meals! We know that…
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Team Nutrition has expanded Discover MyPlate! Check out our fun and inquiry-based nutrition education resources designed to teach kindergarten-aged children healthy nutrition habits. https://t.co/MFnjgFotWk
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Nutrition security provides consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe and affordable foods to promote optimal health and well-being. We must do better to integrate nutrition into health by encouraging Doctors to screen for food insecurity.#foodasmedicine #nutritionsecurity
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Our children deserve the best we can offer. That's why our programs are grounded in the latest nutrition science and real-world experience from nutrition and industry experts. https://t.co/tEPtkr9rrW
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RT @TeamNutrition: Heading to #SHAPEseattle? We’re excited to present “Get Real: Enhancing Student Health With Innovative Nutrition Educati…
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RT @TeamNutrition: School breakfast is important for students’ success. Bard High School Early College in DC offers this tasty breakfast bu…
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We’re excited to be participating in the #NAWBForum23 at the Workforce + SNAP E&T seminar! The SNAP E&T program provides support and training to SNAP participants to help them find better jobs. https://t.co/jgKAMcBhGf
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RT @SecVilsack: No one in America should have to worry about whether they can put healthy food on the kitchen table for themselves or their…
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At today’s Come to the Table Summit, Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean spoke on the power of access to healthy food and that to improve nutrition and health for all Americans, we must work together and take bold actions. #nutritionsecurity#foodasmedicinehttps://t.co/hcAhKOI16d
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@USDANutrition #DYK: The SNAP E&T State Institute is for states to carefully review the status of their SNAP E&T program and to acknowledge both what’s working well and identify key program gaps and action steps that can be taken to achieve program goals. Learn more https://t.co/sKQ8VMUFSahttps://t.co/miZQN3TlDu
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RT @SecVilsack: Thanks to our panelists, attendees learned about the various ways to support better health and inspire additional action wi…
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RT @SecVilsack: Today I moderated a panel discussion at the kickoff event for the @WhiteHouse Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Com…
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RT @SecVilsack: Six months ago, @POTUS hosted the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years, bringing…
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Yesterday, Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean joined @foodgatherers and partners in in Ann Arbor, MI. to discuss the power of federal nutrition programs and partnerships with emergency food providers. https://t.co/wIWnWWBzhV
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RT @ChefAnnFnd: Yesterday, @SecVilsack announced new investments in healthy school meals and nutrition education nationwide. 🍎
$7.8 millio…
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Just Announced: Dr. Caree Jackson Cotwright, PhD, RDN, will be the new Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity starting April 10th. Welcome to FNS! 🎉#NutritionSecurity https://t.co/IR7xLRy2EN
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Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean keynotes at The State of Our Plate conference hosted by @foodgatherers in Ann Arbor, MI. Food Gatherers exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in their community. https://t.co/xwg5u5eHET
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New on the blog: Read about FNS’s experience while in San Diego for the School Nutrition Industry Conference. Working together to support the health of our children, we can accomplish the goal of ending child hunger. https://t.co/qIqBrlgCSa#HealthyKidshttps://t.co/60RkynTZPg
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RT @SecVilsack: While I visited with students at Maplewood Elementary School, I got a quick preview of the school's smoothie bike - a uniqu…
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Happy National #AgWeek ! Special thanks to our partners who make the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program possible. The program has been providing fresh produce to #WIC participants since '92, see if your state participates here https://t.co/HRw2gguRhThttps://t.co/DrBLQ7mQxa
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Secretary Vilsack visited @GreeleySchools to announce key initiatives to strengthen #schoolmeals and access to healthy foods for kids. With the partnership of great school districts, our programs improve health, support learning, bolster productivity, and much more. #healthykidshttps://t.co/pDL7ue2duK
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RT @SecVilsack: Lastly, @USDA announced a proposed rule that would give more schools the option to provide healthy meals to more students a…
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RT @SecVilsack: These forward-thinking, innovative actions are part of @USDA’s ongoing efforts to support schools and strengthen school mea…
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RT @SecVilsack: Today, I visited Maplewood Elementary School to meet with local school officials & nutrition experts & see the school's inn…
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We are celebrating National School Breakfast Week at Belmont ES in @BaltCitySchools. Our programs improve health, support learning, bolster productivity & much more. Learn more about the School Breakfast Program here https://t.co/UXZUhY24e2#NSBW23https://t.co/DHK1Rt7v8x
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@USDANutrition #SchoolMeals give kids a leg up on the nutrition they need to grow and thrive! The school meals proposed changes incorporate feedback from schools, industry partners, and input from child nutrition experts to develop standards for meals that are healthy and delicious. https://t.co/5DeUolqZji
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RT @SecVilsack: This morning, I'm thrilled to join agriculture leaders at @USDA's 99th annual #AgOutlook23! I look forward to delivering my…
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Special thanks to @urbanschool food for inviting us to participate in your meeting last week in LA. We are grateful for your support and partnership in our shared goal of continuing to elevate the role that healthy meals play in schools and for our children’s future. https://t.co/q1oiBMXmyL
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@USDANutrition
Nothing can beet seasonal veggies - winter vegetables are rich in color, nutrients, and are available now. Check out your local farmers market for beets, kale, turnips, and sweet potatoes. https://t.co/2KtA2uGnmVhttps://t.co/dXdeejGkHP
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@USDANutrition
School meals support learning but sending #GovLove to @usedgov for their continued work to raise the bar on education and set students up for a lifetime of success. https://t.co/8Iaba4sI27
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@USDANutrition
FNS will stand side-by-side with our federal, state and local partners to ensure SNAP participants are aware of this change and to continue providing nutrition assistance to anyone in need. https://t.co/7RWSKvNRmOhttps://t.co/1jQvmXUq4h
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Beginning March 2023 all states will return to issuing standard SNAP benefit amounts without the pandemic-related bonus known as emergency allotments (EA). Learn more about these changes with this infographic https://t.co/nabqhcId9ghttps://t.co/kvu7WMetNI