Center for People adding nutrition education services [Video]

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Center for People is launching a new nutrition education initiative, the People’s Pantry, aiming to teach proper nutrition and cooking skills.

The $1 million dollar idea was sparked by spaghetti squash.

Executive Director Macala Carter said two years ago one of their employees noticed shoppers at the center’s food distributions were ignoring the spaghetti squash, prompting them to ask people why.

“There were two responses, either folks didn’t understand or know what it was. Or two, if they did know what it was, they had no idea how to prepare it,” Carter said.

Carter said that night, the employee went home and made recipe cards for spaghetti squash shoppers.

“From that very simple construct, we wrote a grant around it,” Carter said.

The Department of Health and Human Services approved the ‘Food Security and Innovation Grant’ for over $1 million. The Center said the project was also possible with the support of the …