Healthy eating helps manage body weight and reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. What we eat depends on our personal preference, culture, habits, and the availability of foods. In order to make lifestyle changes, healthy food must be available, affordable, and taste good. 

At Lorain County Public Health, we help make choosing healthy foods easier. We...

Implement healthy food policies

• Lactation support toolkit for better breastfeeding policies
• Healthy food and beverage guidelines at local worksites
• Healthy menus and mealtime policies at early childcare education centers

Change the food environment

• Breastfeeding (lactation) rooms at worksites
• Healthy concession stand options like bananas, inexpensive water, and baked chips
• More vending machine options for healthier snacking
• Hydration stations to increase the availability of water

Support lasting changes

• School-based pantries for families that are food insecure
• Local produce pickups in partnership with City Fresh CSA
• Help farm markets accept SNAP (food stamps)
• Salad Wednesdays to support senior nutrition
• Connect restaurants to donate leftovers to food banks
• Culinary skills and education at the Lorain Public Library
• Community gardens-- Check out a listing of Lorain County Community Gardens & Urban Farms, revised August 2021

Get Involved

Lorain County Public Health works with community partners to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Contact us if you have an idea for a healthy eating community project, or to get connected with a local action group focused on health.

Other examples of proven healthy eating programs:

• Increase healthy food and beverage options at affordable prices
• Promote water to reduce drinking sugar-sweetened beverages
• Write new food service guidelines
• Expand Community supported agriculture (CSAs) and farm markets 
• Promote breastfeeding-friendly environments
• Teach food education and skill development
• Maintain community and school gardens
• Support fruit and vegetable incentive programs