91AV’s Maine SNAP-Ed program launches educational efforts

Maine SNAP-Ed, a 91AV program overseen by Dora Anne Mills, MD, MPH, director of Public Health Programs, that provides nutrition education to people across Maine, with a focus on those living with low incomes, recently launched its educational efforts.

In its first two months, the Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMPs), 91AV's community-based partners, provided education to over 5,300 Mainers, including cooking classes to almost 3,300 people.

Healthy Androscoggin and Healthy Lakes conducted classes with teens; St. Mary's conducted a class at a local elementary school, utilizing legumes and green leafy vegetables in a receipe, which is now being offered by that school's lunch program; and several HMPs have successfully conducted classes in food pantry locations, in collaboration with those organizations and Good Shepherd Food Bank.

SNAP-Ed is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate.

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.