The health of the next generation depends on the nutrition of girls and young women today.  New research has shown that malnutrition in the womb changes the structure and function of the body for life, and makes people vulnerable to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, as well as other diseases and illnesses.  A mother’s capacity to nourish her baby is built up by good nutrition throughout her life.

The Marion County Public Health Department Nutrition Services provides individual and group nutrition education for all ages and stages of the lifecycle.

RESOURCES

Women, Infants, and Children’s Program (WIC)
WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition information, supplemental foods and referrals to health and social services to eligible pregnant and postpartum women and children up to age five. http://marionhealth.org/programs/population-health/adolescent-health-2/

Food and Consumer Safety
Provides food safety educations. http://marionhealth.org/programs/environmental-health/food-and-consumer-safety-2/

Chronic Disease Program
Strives to help people develop and maintain healthy lifestyles through a variety of educational programs. 
http://marionhealth.org/programs/population-health/chronic-disease/

Summer Meals in Your Community
Nutritious free meals are available for children and teens 18 and younger at many locations. https://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks

Food Pantries.Org
Find local pantries, soup kitchens, food shelves, food banks and other food help. https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/in-indianapolis

Connect 2 Help
Programs that acquire food products through donations, canned food drives, food bank programs or direct purchase and distribute the food to people who are in emergency situations. Some pantries deliver food to people whose disabilities or illnesses make it difficult for them to leave home. http://www.connect2help211.org/

Gleaners
Leading the fight against hunger in Indiana by distributing food to more than 250 partner agencies in 21 Indiana counties: food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

Gleaners also provides direct services to those struggling with hunger, through programs such as BackSacks: Weekend Food for Kids, School-Based Pantry, C.A.R.E. Mobile Pantry, and Community Cupboard https://www.gleaners.org/

SNAP
Provides food assistance to low and no income people and families. https://www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/2691.htm

Indiana Food Scrap Initiative
Explore the causes of food waste, barriers to appropriate management, and the opportunities at every rung of the food waste management hierarchy to reduce, recover, compost, and digest food waste. http://indianarecycling.org/project/indiana-food-scrap-initiative-join-us/