Food Bank News

Foods of the Month: Rice and Cereal

You see it at the grocery store and feel it at the pump.  Rising food and fuel prices are impacting your budget.  We’re feeling the pinch, too.   While the need for basic, everyday foods is at an all-time high, their prices are also skyrocketing.  Rice and cereal are two of these staples, with prices that have increased by 25% and 6%, respectively, over the last six months.  Second Harvest uses your donations to buy the foods needed to round out a nutritious plate, but more expensive food means smaller portions.  You can help us keep basics in the mix by donating these March foods of the month.

Why rice?

Rice is a global grain that knows no borders when it comes to enriching the health content of meals across the world.  Rice comes in many shapes, sizes and colors – it’s as diverse as the populations that consume it!  In addition to providing carbohydrates to fuel your body, it also contains several key nutrients, which is why the USDA has reserved a portion of MyPlate to be exclusively devoted to grains like rice. The USDA recommends 6 ounces of grains a day as part of the nation’s dietary guidelines.

Our Community Nutritionist Janet Hung explains, “It’s no surprise that rice is thrown at newly married couples during weddings, as a symbol of fertility, luck, and wealth. After all, rice is the primary dietary staple for more than half of the world’s population. Since brown rice is high in fiber, it gives a satisfying full feeling, and also eases digestion. It is also nutrient-dense and has over 15 vitamins and minerals.”

Why cereal?

Many say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and among Americans who eat it, cereal is the most popular choice.  Like rice, cereal fills the important grain section of MyPlate or, perhaps, MyBowl.  Hot cereal is easy to prepare and cold cereal can be enjoyed with milk, yogurt or by itself.  Cereals also contain many important vitamins and minerals.  Low-sugar options offer a quick and healthy start to the day, so it’s no wonder that the food pantries we serve call cereal a most-wanted food.

Unfortunately, with these price increases we have to buy smaller packages, and fewer of them, which is leaving MyPlate unbalanced.

How can I help?

You can help by donating rice and cereal, or hosting a drive to collect them where you live or work.  All varieties, especially whole grains and low-sugar options, are welcome.  Although 20-pound bags of rice are accepted, we do prefer smaller portions that can be distributed to individuals and families. You can also donate online to help Second Harvest buy more of the basics that keep our neighbors in need healthy.

Thank you for helping to fill the plate and keep basics in the mix!

Food of the Month: Beans for February

To continue our Food of the Month series, we are focusing on beans for February. As with peanut butter, beans have a long shelf life, they fill an important role in a balanced diet and are easy to prepare. For more information on our most-needed food items, check out our website.

If beans were to compete in the Healthy Food Olympics, they would surely collect many medals at the podium for being extra nutritious. Classified by the USDA as being a subgroup of vegetables, beans have long sustained a good reputation because of their versatility and variety, which can easily color one’s diet for the better. They’re ubiquitous across many cuisines, whether it’s black beans, cannellini beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans or lima beans. These legumes can add texture and richness to salads, baked dishes, desserts, dips, chilis, soups and pastas. From morning to evening, beans can be consumed at any part of your day.

The nutritional value of beans is undeniable. They are low in fat, filled with protein and contain complex carbohydrates that can give you plenty of energy for your day. Not to mention they also have plenty of potassium, antioxidants and folate, a B vitamin that helps with cell development for pregnant women.

According to Janet Hung, our Community Nutritionist, “Beans are a tiny, powerful vegetable with a whole bunch of health benefits. They are high in fiber, which eases digestion and keeps you regular. They also offer an excellent source of protein and iron, especially for vegetarians.  It’s no wonder that beans are used in many cultures worldwide. They’re a versatile little legume that packs a nutritious punch while being easy on the budget.”

For more information about the health benefits of eating beans visit the USDA’s MyPlate webpage. For a short and colorful feature on how to prepare dried or canned beans, check out this Real Simple magazine article.

You can help get beans onto the plates of the people we serve in our community! By hosting a drive or mini collection where you live, work or play, you can help the families have more access to nutritious beans. Register for a drive today or drop some off at our San Jose or San Carlos warehouse.

Second Harvest Reaches Holiday Food and Fund Goals!

Thanks to the generous support of local companies and individuals, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties has reached its Holiday Food and Fund Drive goals of $11.3 million and 1.6 million pounds of food. The holiday drive is a critical fundraiser for Second Harvest because the Food Bank raises nearly half its annual revenues during the holidays.

Jed York and Mike Klayko teamed up for a winning Holiday Food and Fund Drive season

“We are very grateful for the community and corporate support we received this year,” said Kathy Jackson, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “We were fortunate to have Brocade CEO Mike Klayko and 49ers President and CEO Jed York co-chairing the drive this year. Their leadership helped to make this a successful campaign. And of course the 49ers incredible winning streak didn’t hurt. We are very proud of the team.”

While donations to the campaign slowed in November, causing some concern, the last-minute flood of support from the community in December and early January made it possible for Second Harvest to achieve its fundraising goals.

Donations raised during the holidays will be used to feed hungry people in the coming months. Second Harvest is seeing unprecedented need due to the economy. The number of people the Food Bank serves has increased nearly 50 percent since the recession started in 2007. Second Harvest provides food to nearly 250,000 people every month – that’s one in 10 people in the two-county region.

The Holiday Food and Fund Drive is critical because nothing else matters when you’re hungry – you can’t concentrate, you can’t learn, you can’t work, you can’t get through the day. Nutritious food is the cornerstone of a healthy, productive life.

Second Harvest Food Bank thanks every individual, company, school and organization that participated in the Holiday Food and Fund Drive by donatin