Preventing Illness and Promoting Wellness for Communities in Eastern Connecticut

  • Andover
  • Ashford
  • Bolton
  • Chaplin
  • Columbia
  • Coventry
  • Mansfield
  • Scotland
  • Tolland
  • Willington

Food & Nutrition

Overall health and wellness is supported by nourishing your body by the foods you eat. Try swapping a 'better choice' each day and focus on minimally processed foods. A starting point can be found at the MyPlate website

Fruits & Vegetables:

Everyone can benefit from the recommendation to eat at least 5 - 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Fruits and vegetables provide needed vitamins and minerals, not to mention fiber and variety to our diet. In their natural state, fruits and vegetables are low in fat and Calories, and can help your body stay healthy and fight disease.

It's easier than you think to get produce into your day. And remember, the greater variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet, the greater the benefit. Check out these resources for ideas, recipes and more:

  • The Produce of the Week campaign, an EHHD project, was funded through a grant from the CT Department of Public Health. Click Here To View the Produce Of the Week (POW!) listing and learn some new recipes and nutritional information on a rainbow of fruits and vegetables that are in season throughout the year.
  • Produce for Better Health (PBH) website: Have a Plant is packed with information based on this non-profit's pledge to "helping people enjoy happier, healthier lives by eating more fruits and vegetables every day". (formerly known as More Matters)

Member Town Farmers' Markets:

  • Andover: Seasonal
  • Ashford: Seasonal
  • Coventry: Sundays June through October at Hale Homestead
  • Coventry Winter Market: November through March at Coventry High
  • Mansfield / Storrs: Year round
  • Scotland: Seasonal, find their schedule on Facebook: Scotland Farmer's Market
  • Tolland: Find their schedule on Facebook: Tolland Farmers Market 

Food Donations

Shopping for a donation for a local food pantry? Select items that support health! Read more about Healthy Food Donations by clicking on the tab in the left menu under Food and Nutrition or view a printable list HERE

Food Safety

When preparing food in your kitchen, for yourself, your family, or to bring to a pot-luck, it is important to remember basic food safety and handling techniques.

Did you know that an estimated 1 in 6 Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year alone? Food poisoning not only sends 128,000 Americans to the hospital each year—it can also cause long-term health problems. You can help keep your family safe from food poisoning at home by following these four simple steps: clean, separate, cook and, chill.

Foodsafety.gov offers easy tips to prevent food poisoning or other food-related illness at: Keep Food Safe

Another great resource for anyone preparing food or serving food:  Partnership for Food Safety Education