Cooking Matters Colorado

💚ANNOUNCEMENT💚

We are thrilled to share that Nourish Colorado is now providing leadership and guidance in partnership with SNAP-Ed Colorado for support and implementation of the Cooking Matters program in Colorado.

We believe that this is a solid path forward for the continuation of food skills education programming and very complementary to the work Nourish leads statewide.

More information can be found at the Nourish Colorado website: https://nourishcolorado.org/nutrition-education/

Back to school - break for breakfast! Make your own grab-and-go breakfasts for a healthy start to the day. Breakfast is important for both kids and adults. Kids need breakfast to give them energy throughout the day and do their best in school. Adults need breakfast for energy and focus throughout the day and to prevent overeating at other meals. Always short on time in the morning? When you have more time, make a big batch of pancakes and freeze them for quick breakfasts for up to 6 weeks. Learn more about this Cooking Matters Colorado tip at https://bit.ly/3Db7ytT.

Store and freeze fresh fruits and veggies! Don’t let your fresh fruits and veggies go to waste. Proper storage can make produce last longer. When purchasing fresh fruits and veggies: if you will eat right away, buy ripe. If you won’t, buy before they are ripe and let them ripen at home. Or, buy a mix – a few that are ripe to eat right away and a few that aren’t for later in the week. Double Up Food Bucks can help to stock up on Colorado-grown fruits and vegetables, while supporting local farmers! Learn more about this Cooking Matters Colorado tip at https://bit.ly/3d0jiF2.

Okra is a delicious green vegetable that is popular in Southern cuisine. It's delicious in stews, casseroles, pickled, or roasted!​

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Shopping Tips for Shopping Trips! To make the most of your food dollars, be sure to have a plan for before, during, and after shopping trips. Menu planning, comparing unit prices, and sticking to a list can all make a big difference! Use these shopping tips for shopping trips to help strategize your next visit to the store or farmers market, and make the most of your Double Up Food Bucks! Learn more about this Cooking Matters Colorado tip at https://bit.ly/3e6xCvK and about Double Up at www.DoubleUpColorado.org

Fall 2021 semester P-EBT benefits are being distributed this week. Learn more about P-EBT at cdhs.colorado.gov/p-ebt

Reminder: There is no P-EBT application. Watch out for scammers trying to collect personal information. If you have questions, contact the P-EBT Support Center. Phone: 1.800.536.5298. Text: 720.741.0550. Email: [email protected]

With grocery prices on the rise, taking inventory of what you have at home is essential when trying to save money. You can simply look in your pantry when making your shopping list or take it a step further and keep a running tally of food you have at home on your computer, phone, or on paper. It takes a little time to get it started but your kids can help you count!

Thank you Cooking Matters Colorado for stopping by and doing a healthy drink presentation for our community.

We love fresh produce this time of year, but wouldn't it be great to have a cheat sheet on what fruits and veggies keep a little longer and which you should use right away so that they don't accidentally go to waste? By planning the week's meals and snacks around perishability, you can stretch your food dollar – a must always, but especially in current times! Start with this guide and "save" for future reference!

If you have been struggling to find formula for your infant, you are not alone. To help families get the critical food they need for their babies, WIC has announced flexibilities to help families use their benefits to purchase alternate brands and sizes, as well as formula being flown in from other countries. Is your state participating? Check with your local WIC office.