FoodWIse Program
Who We Are
FoodWIse (formerly the Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program) works to meet the diverse needs of low-income Wisconsin residents by providing nutrition education in various community settings. For over 20 years, the Portage and Wood County FoodWIse program has been helping limited-resource individuals and families choose healthful diets, purchase and prepare healthful foods, handle food safely, and become more food-secure by spending their food dollars wisely. Every year, thousands of educational contacts are made in Portage and Wood County by our nutrition educators at various community locations.
Who and Where We Teach
Youth Hundreds of school-age kids receive nutrition education lessons each year at qualifying elementary schools. We also teach at Head Start and at youth summer programs throughout the county. Youth learn how to make healthy food choices and basic food safety practices.
Parents We provide interactive nutrition education to parents of young children at various locations throughout the county including WIC, Head Start, the YMCA, and schools. A variety of topics are covered including feeding infants and young children, preparing healthy meals and snacks, stretching food dollars, strategies for shopping, and family mealtimes.
Seniors Additionally, we provide education at various senior sites throughout the county. Seniors learn food safety practices and ways to stretch their food dollars. They are also encouraged to make healthy food choices such as increasing fruit, vegetable, and whole grain consumption.
Other Programs for Adults We teach at local food pantries, community meal sites, and technical colleges. We partner with many different county and Extension programs to offer nutrition education to FoodShare recipients or other eligible individuals. Most education centers on managing food dollars, and choosing healthy foods.
Staff
If you have any questions regarding the Portage/Wood County FoodWIse Program, please contact:
Penny Schmitt
FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, Portage County
Email: penny.schmitt@wisc.edu
Phone: (715) 343-6254
An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX and ADA/504 requirements. Please make requests for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to educational programs as early as possible preceding the scheduled program, service or activity. FoodWIse is funded by the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-SNAP and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program-EFNEP
