You may qualify for one or more of these programs that makes it easier to buy healthy foods:
SNAP
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) provides extra money for groceries to help buy food while money is tight.
In Iowa, click here to learn if you are eligible.
Outside of Iowa, click here to find your state to see if you are eligible.
School Meals
School Meals are available at free or reduced prices to children ages 18 and under.
Call or visit your child's school to see if you're eligible and to apply.
Food Pantries and Distributions
Food Pantries and Distributions provide free food to community members who are experiencing hunger. Food banks are big warehouses that provide food to local organizations called food pantries.
In Iowa, call 211 to find your nearest food pantry.
Outside of Iowa, find your nearest food bank here, then call or search your zip code to find local pantries.
Congregate Meals
Congregate Meals are available for adults ages 60 and older. Services are resuming on-site as congregate meals or home-delivered meals may be available for individuals who are homebound.
In Iowa, find meals in your county here or call 211.
Outside of Iowa, find nearby meal providers here.
Double Up
Food Bucks
Double Up Food Bucks gives you $1 in Double Up Food Bucks for every $1 you spend on any fresh fruits and vegetables with your SNAP EBT card.
In Iowa, find a Double Up Food Bucks location near you here.
Outside of Iowa, see if your state has this program and find participating grocery stores and Farmer's Markets near you here.
Blog Posts
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Snack Boards on the Go
One of my favorite things to do in the summer is go on an adventure with my children. These adventures are usually not fancy. Checking out a local city, county, or state park tops our list. Over the years, I have become pretty good at packing for these spur of the moment trips. Packing a…
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Fresh and Flexible Snack Boards
Today I get to kick off our series on snack boards – one of my favorite topics! My mom makes a snack board for most family get-togethers and they’re always pretty and delicious. When our family gathers it’s usually at least eight people and often more, so there are a lot of different tastes to…
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What an Egg-cellent Idea!
This month I’m sharing with you a recipe that is a bit unique. It’s our recipe for Hard-Cooked Eggs. Most people call them hard boiled eggs, but when I started working with Spend Smart. Eat Smart. I learned about this recipe and that eggs shouldn’t be hard boiled. To hard-cook eggs, the water comes to…