(Franklin, GA) — A new ‘Food Talk Virtual’ series is being made available to Heard County citizens ages 18 and over next month through the UGA SNAP-Ed program.
SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education) is the nutrition promotion and obesity prevention component of SNAP.
The goal of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that persons SNAP-eligible Georgians will make healthy food and lifestyle choices that prevent obesity.
UGA SNAP-Ed program assistant Julie Galvez
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps).
It is part of the U.S. domestic hunger safety net and provides economic benefits to eligible, low-income individuals and families for food purchases.
Here in Heard County, the SNAP-Ed program is being instructed by a new face to the local community — Ms. Julie Galvez.
Julie has served as the program assistant in Heard County since last September.
She will be offering the free Food Talk series in both English and Spanish.
Born and raised in Honduras, Julie moved to the United States when she was 15 years old.
She attended and graduated from both Carrollton High School and the University of West Georgia.
Due to COVID, Julie is only able to teach the program virtually until face-to-face learning becomes possible again.
The six free 1-hour classes will be taught from 6:00-7:00 PM each Tuesday night beginning on Tuesday, March 2.
“We teach people how to eat healthy on a budget, incorporate physical activity on a budget, and how to build long term healthy habits,” says Julie.
Currently, one of the primary challenges of offering the virtual program in Heard County is the lack of quality internet service. To help alleviate this problem, the Centralhatchee Library is offering the use of its computers for the classes each Tuesday.
The federally funded program is open not only to those who are on food stamps but everyone 18 and above.
Julie hopes to help strengthen the diversity of the program by offering the classes in both English and Spanish.
“This course offers very basic information, but we find that most people don’t even know the most basic information. It is my goal to build sustainable long-term habits,” she says.
“It’s not just about dieting or saving money it is a fresh approach to health — prevention is the best medicine and everyone can learn something from this program.”
Julie says that parents and especially young mothers can benefit most from the program.
“Kids mimic their parents, and mothers especially play an important role in the family. If the takes this course she can then teach the husband and the kids.”
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is funded by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and offered nationwide.
In Georgia, the SNAP-Ed funding is administered by the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
The University of Georgia (UGA) SNAP-Ed serves as one of the four implementing agencies in our state.
For more information and to sign up for Julie’s upcoming classes click here or scan the barcode in the photo below!
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