The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income individuals buy the food they need to stay healthy. Funds are loaded onto a Bridge Card, also known as an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, and can be used to purchase groceries like you would using a credit or debit card.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) promotes ways to live healthier, more active lives. Funded by the Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF), the NKFM is a dedicated SNAP-Ed provider, working to make the healthier choice, the easier choice. NKFM staff are committed to connecting individuals with resources to encourage the adoption of healthy eating and physical activity.
Quick Links
Click LEARN MORE in the boxes below to find information on how the NKFM can support you and your SNAP benefits.
SNAP Updates
Local News Story –
NKFM, Community members collaborate at local “Food in Our Community” Summit
National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and community partners work to develop strategies for a stronger local food system, especially for residents with the least resources.
Read more here.
Questions on SNAP eligibility and how to apply for assistance?
The NKFM, with support from the United Way of Southeastern Michigan, has developed an in-depth guide to navigating resources and systems within Wayne County. It helps individuals find the resources they need. Click the link below to access the Finding Your Way guide on our Basic Resources page.
Where to find SNAP information in Finding Your Way:
SNAP Eligibility | page 77
SNAP Application | page 80
Additional Resources | page 83
Where the Money Comes From | page 84
Double Up Food Bucks
People who receive SNAP are often automatically eligible for other programs, such as the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program. At participating DUFB grocery stores and farmer’s market locations, shoppers who have SNAP can get up to $20 in tokens to purchase Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. Visit the DUFB website to learn more and to find locations that accept DUFB.
Healthy Eating
SNAP benefits help you buy healthy foods for you and your household at grocery stores and farmers markets. Food eligible to purchase with SNAP benefits include:
- Fruits and vegetables;
- Meat, poultry, and fish;
- Dairy products;
- Breads and cereals;
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.
For more information on healthy eating, visit our Nutrition page.
Healthy Eating is for the Whole Family
Healthy eating is important at every stage of life. Here are some some ways to help you and your family make healthy choices together:
- Connect at mealtimes
- Plan your meals
- Let everyone help
- Serve a variety of foods
- Let kids choose
- Offer nonfood rewards
Mealtime Tips
This month, we encourage you and your family to connect during meals. MyPlate has some tips for you to try:
- Remove distractions by turning off the TV and making a phone “parking spot” away from the table.
- Have everyone share what they did during the day. What made you laugh or what you did for fun?
- Try new foods at home. Kids need many opportunities to taste a new food to “get used to it.”
- Have adults and older kids talk about the color, feel, or flavor of foods. It’ll make them sound more appealing to younger kids that may be picky.
Additional Resources
Michigan Harvest to Table
Citrus fruits are packed with vitamin C to boost your body’s healing and protective processes. They are a good source of fiber, which helps us feel fuller and benefits the digestive and cardiovascular systems. Citrus zest and juice can add flavor and replace sodium in recipes — great for kidney health! Try Michigan Harvest to Table's Carrot Orange Soup recipe.
Physical Activity
Physical activity is key to a healthy lifestyle. Kids need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day and adults should aim for 150 minutes per week. One way to accomplish this? Get active together! When the whole family gets moving, everyone gets the health benefits. Here are some tips to get started:
- Get a mix of activity. Do things that:
- Strengthen your bones
- Build your muscles
- Make your heart beat faster
- Split up your 60 minutes over the day however you want — it all adds up!
- Before school
- At recess
- After school
- Do things you enjoy doing.
Build out your daily physical activity plan with the Move Your Way physical activity tool! For more information on ways to get active, visit our Physical Activity page.
Tips for Educators
Healthy Eating
Food is a universal language for sharing and learning. Schools can play an important role in helping students establish healthy behaviors through education and practice. The CDC recommends that schools implement policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices by providing them with access to healthy and appealing foods and beverages, consistent and accurate messages about healthy eating, and opportunities to learn about and practice healthy eating. Taking action is simple!
- Explore each of the food groups. Talk to students about healthy eating and why it is important for their bodies
- Add MyPlate messaging into your classroom calendar, bulletin board, emails, and morning announcements.
- Join Team Nutrition
- Start a school garden in which kids, parents, teachers, and community members can participate. Need tips on where to start? Check out this blog from the USDA.
- Set a good example for the children by eating healthier and being more active.
- Consider implementing a nutrition education program into your classroom. Check out our Programs page to learn more about our youth nutrition education programs.
- Let’s Move! Child Care provides information on best practice recommendations and resources for nutrition and physical activity for child care centers.
Physical Activity
According to the CDC, students who engage in regular physical activity tend to have better grades, attendance, cognitive performance, and classroom behaviors. Physical activity opportunities can be implemented before school, during school, and after the school day through physical education, recess, staff involvement and family and community engagement. Here are some ways you can incorporate physical activity into your classroom:
- Incorporate movement into lessons or plan quick activity breaks into your day.
- Take students for a walk.
- Do not use physical activity as punishment.
- Make recess a part of each school day. Recess is an important part of an active school. Check out Strategies for Recess in Schools to learn how you can support recess at your school.
- Encourage walking and biking to school through the Safe Routes to School movement.
- Go NAPSACC -Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment for Child Care website.
This project was funded in whole or in part by the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Fitness Foundation.