Newsroom

A game that encourages kids to learn healthy eating habits and ski with their digital creature in the living room, another that challenges gamers to stack food without breaking a virtual scale, and an app that pairs physical activity with food choices – like 2600 sit-ups to offset an afternoon candy bar – are among those recognized today in the culmination of the $60,000 Apps for Healthy Kids challenge.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that Hampden County, Mass., will conduct the first-ever Healthy Incentives Pilot  – an incentives-based program to empower low-income Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables. The 2008 Farm Bill authorized $20 million to research whether incentives for participants in the SNAP will increase their purchase of healthful foods.

Secretary Vilsack today announced new resources designed to increase participation and expand access to SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

Today, USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon marked the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA) of 2009, also known as the stimulus or recovery package, by announcing that ARRA invested more than $8 billion in local economies to feed the hungry through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly the Food Stamp Program with approximately $830 million more invested each month.  In addition, through the Emergency Food Assistance program, states received an additional $150 million to support local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens.

At a special presentation, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History acquired Food Stamp Program coupons and other related materials from FNS, the cornerstone of U.S. food assistance programs designed to ensure that low income citizens can obtain a nutritious diet. In October 2008, Congress renamed the Food Stamp Program to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to emphasize the program's focus on nutrition.