1. S O L U T I O N S T O H E A L T H Y E A T I N G O N F O O D S T A M P S
P R E S E N T E D B Y A L Y S S A J A J E
IN SEARCH OF THE
MISSING LINK
2. THE BASICS
• Many Aurora Housing Authority residents
receive assistance through food stamps
• Eating healthy costs $1.50 more a day
compared to eating processed foods
• Only 13% of Americans are eating the daily
recommended amounts of produce
• 85% of Americans lack essential vitamins and
nutrients
3. PROBLEMS WITH AFFORDING HEALTHY
FOOD
• Healthy eating costs, on
average, $1.50 more a day
(about $550 a year)
• Study compared healthy diets, those
ample in produce and fish, with diets full of
processed foods, meats, and grains
• In comparison to healthcare
costs for chronic diseases caused
by obesity, eating healthy is not
so expensive
• Many cannot afford to plan for
future health, and therefore fast
and cheap food is the most
realistic option
4. IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY EATING
• Eating the recommended amounts of
produce every day can:
• Offer much needed dietary nutrients
and fiber
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce risk of heart disease and
stroke
• Prevent some types of cancer
• Lower risk of eye and digestive
problems
• Have a positive effect upon blood
sugar which can help keep appetite
in check
5. FOOD STAMPS
• Low income families are eligible for
assistance based on yearly earnings
• Used only for food purchases
• Based off of the Department of Agriculture’s
Thrifty Food Plan
• Estimates how much buying and preparing
nutritious, low-budget meals would cost
• Illinois issues LINK cards for food stamps, which
act as debit card
6. FOOD STAMP DATA
Illinois 2014
Total Benefits (Per Month)
$3.2 BILLION
Benefit per Person (Per Month)
$132
Benefit per Household (Per Month)
$261
Persons Participating
2.02 MILLION
people
Households Participating
1,021,149 households
National 2014
7. FOOD STAMPS AT FARMERS MARKETS
• All 3 Aurora farmers markets accept food stamps
at double value
• Gives people incentive to buy more produce
when vouchers are worth double value
8. FARMERS MARKET LOCATIONS
Downtown:
Saturdays, June 6 through
October 17 from 8:00 a.m.
until 12 noon
West:
Wednesdays, July 8 through
September 30 from 12:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m.
East:
Thursdays, July 9 through
August 27 from 2:30p.m. to
6:30 p.m.
9. SETTING FORTH NEW PROGRAMS
• Offer cooking and nutrition classes
• Educate on the importance of good
nutrition
• Teach residents how to purchase and
prepare healthy meals
• Provide resources with more
information about healthy eating
• Printouts of recipes
• Books like Good and Cheap by Leanne
Brown and Unprocessed by Megan Kimble
• Make produce a priority when
designing the Market @ Sixteen Thirty
10. THE MARKET @ SIXTEEN THIRTY
• Suggestions:
• Make produce a
priority when in
designing stages
• Accept LINK
cards
• Develop
relations with
local businesses,
farmers, grocers
11. FOLLOWING OTHER INITIATIVES
• Follow the example of Lancaster City Housing
Authority Wellness and Empowerment for Good
Health
• Aurora Housing Authority can connect with
students at Benedictine University and Northern
Illinois University
12. RESIDENT EMPOWERMENT
• Group classes and
activities can help HA
residents build a larger
social networks
• Visiting farmers
markets helps
support locally
grown food
initiatives to help
the economy
• Teaching residents
to be more self-
sufficient
