The Indy Health District is launching a Floating Farmers Market to bring nutritious food options to underserved neighborhoods, starting May 30 at 21st and Capitol.

The Floating Farmers Market will rotate among five neighborhoods within the Indy Health District, which currently lacks grocery stores. This initiative aims to improve access to healthy food, education and mental health resources.

The Indy Health District covers an area between IU Methodist Hospital and Crown Hill Cemetery, encompassing over 1,500 acres. Residents in this area have a life expectancy in their mid-60s, significantly lower than nearby Hamilton County.

The Floating Farmers Market represents a significant step towards addressing food deserts in the Indy Health District, with hopes of eventually establishing permanent grocery stores in the area.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, Wish TV highlighted the nutritional benefits of potatoes for active families.

Sports dietitian and nutrition expert Kelly Jones explained that potatoes are a high-quality carbohydrate that provides essential nutrients such as potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and protein.

With their nutritional benefits and versatility in recipes, potatoes can be a valuable addition to the diet of active families, providing sustained energy and essential nutrients.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Indiana state government has canceled a summer groceries program for families with kids.

The decision has raised concerns about food security for families.

Last summer, some Hoosier families a crucial boost of $120 per child for grocery assistance while schools were closed. It benefited around 669,000 children.

Groceries purchased with SUN Bucks could be paired with free summer meals and meal-to-go options to help ensure kids do not go hungry while schools aren’t in session for the summer. However, Indiana has cut the federal program after just one year, and, for many, the only remaining option is meal sites.

Gov. Mike Braun’s office and the Indiana Department of Agriculture did not immediately reply to News 8 requests to find out why the program was cut and what was the cost to operate it. The Department of Education shared a statement.

Throughout the summer, families can find Summer Food Service Program locations through the Site Finder Map or through the Hunger Hotline. The Hunger Hotline can be reached from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. ET weekdays at 866-348-6479 for English language or 877-842-6273 for Spanish language.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With soaring prices and many varieties of eggs, you want to make sure you’re getting what you think you’re paying for. Consumer Reports deciphers those confusing egg labels and explains what they mean.

Cage-free means that the hens are not kept in cages, but it doesn’t mean they’re clucking around in the fresh air and sunshine. They can still be kept indoors, often in crowded conditions.

An organic label means eggs come from hens fed grains without synthetic pesticides or GMOs. The birds cannot be raised in cages or given antibiotics. They must have some outdoor access. There’s no standard definition of pastured-raised. However, the Certified Humane or the American Humane Certified labels require chickens to have access to a pasture with enough space for natural behaviors, like pecking for seeds and bugs.

Free-range birds are not kept in cages and have outdoor access, but they can still be raised in crowded conditions, and the outdoor area can be tiny.

Consumer Reports says the words farm fresh and natural are basically meaningless. All eggs come from “farms,” even if the farm is a big building where chickens are packed into cages. So, this labeling claim has no value. The term “fresh” generally means the product hasn’t been frozen, but eggs in the shell should never be frozen. Also, an egg is a natural food product, so slapping “natural” on it has no clearly defined additional meaning.

With eggs fast becoming an egg-stravagant splurge, knowing precisely what you’re paying for is essential!

Don’t be so quick to throw out expired eggs. The USDA says eggs may be refrigerated for three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the fridge. The “Sell-By” date will usually expire during that time, but they will be perfectly safe to use.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Volunteers with Bank of America on Tuesday rolled up their sleeves to fight food insecurity right here in Indiana.

It’s all part of the Million Meal Initiative.

Fifty volunteers gathered at an office near 96th Street and College Avenue to pack more than 5,000 casserole meals to feed hungry families. The co-founder of million meals tells us that food insecurity in Indiana is higher than the national average.

Nancy Hintz, executive director and co-founder of the Million Meal Movement, said, “This is what makes this kind of work so valuable to the state of Indiana, everyone gets involved.”

In Indiana alone, 1 million people – including 1 in 5 children – don’t know where they’ll get their next meal.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New restrictions on SNAP benefits may increase demand on food banks and the local pantries they fill. The Indy Hunger Network is bracing for the challenge as they already see a higher demand for food banks.

The Indy Hunger Network provides networking opportunities for over 210 food pantries across Indianapolis. They focus on helping established pantries collaborate with other pantries to be better service providers. They also offer nutrition related assistance through the Healthy Nudges Program and they also make small grants for food pantries.

Outside of helping pantries, Indy Hunger Network goes directly to those in need to teach them how to cook healthy meals.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A church on the west side of Indianapolis will soon enter a battle against food insecurity.

The congregation on Saturday will celebrate the opening of a food pantry.

Over the past six months, church leaders and volunteers have partnered with local organizations to gain the skills and resources needed to support families in need, providing them with hope and practical assistance.

The International Church-Jesus Christ is My Refuge is preparing for a ceremony to showcase its members’ dedication and hard work. This event will launch the food pantry and signal a new era of compassionate service on the west side of Indianapolis.

Merlin Gonzales is president and CEO of Faith, Hope, & Love Community, a nondenominational network of food partners in Indianapolis. “Training volunteers is important. They are as important or even more important than the food we give to people because as we care for people and understand their deeper needs, maybe with education, additional technical training, or addiction counseling, then we will be able to support them.”

Churches operate 71% of U.S. food pantries.

Last week, leaders and volunteers from three emerging missional food pantry teams in Indianapolis gathered for an administration and operations training session. Participants gained skills and plans to uplift those they serve.

“Beyond food, many people are spiritually, emotionally and, of course, physically hungry. So, we maximize the point of contact, and that’s why we train our volunteers, who are the frontline and the face of the food pantry, and change the tradition/culture of how we help the food-insecure population,” Gonzales said.

Volunteers are trained to engage businesses for support. Expanding the missional food pantry network represents advancement for the churches and the Indianapolis community.

“In the process of providing emergency food assistance, we should not stop there. We should be thinking about those individuals’ long-term help and sustainability.”

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.