Healthy Eating

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 drink 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 experiencing food insecurity
Local produce pickups in partnership with City Fresh CSA , the Heart & Sole Collaborative, and the KEY Collaborative
Help farm markets accept SNAP (food stamps)-- Check out a listing of local farm markets, revised July 2023
Kitchen skills and education at the Lorain Public Library System
Community gardens-- Check out a listing of Lorain County Community Gardens & Urban Farms, revised August 2021

Help eligible families enroll in WIC:

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a federal nutrition education program conducted through the Ohio Department of Health
WIC provides supplemental foods which promote good health for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to age 5
Infants can get supplemental formula and/or baby food and infant cereal