Partnership for a Healthier America has released the Healthy Hunger Relief Index to help food banks incorporate health & nutrition into day to day operations. The Index, developed over two years, offers a detailed evaluation of food banks’ efforts towards this end. Seventeen food banks participated in the survey, achieving a collective score of 1.89 on a scale from zero (no system in place) to three (system fully embedded). The results showed strength in partnering for health and nutrition advocacy but weakness in fostering a culture of health and nutrition internally.

The Index includes almost 40 questions across five categories aimed at determining the integration of health and nutrition into a food bank’s culture and operations. Questions cover a wide range of topics, such as sourcing policies, restricting unhealthy food, existence of healthy pantry programs, and the presence of nutrition experts on staff.

Food banks appreciate the Index for its capacity to identify areas of strength and those needing improvement, thus helping shape future strategies. Good Shepherd Food Bank, which has long been focused on healthy hunger relief, has started to see a culture shift around nutrition and health, supported by its use of the Index. San Diego Food Bank used the Index to pinpoint areas requiring further training and education. It also identified the need to consider the cultural diversity of the food it distributes, given the ever-changing demographics of the communities they serve.

The Healthy Hunger Relief Index illustrated that food banks are generally adept at providing financial support to agency partners but struggle with offering culturally relevant food training. Partnership for a Healthier America plans to encourage participating food banks to retake the Index next year and to extend its reach to other food banks, including new members of its Healthy Hunger Relief program.