We educate those we serve about the importance of healthy eating.

As part of the Feeding American network, Feeding South Florida strives to ensure most of our food meets the “Foods to Encourage” or “F2E” standards of the USDA. This means that we not only strive to distribute food that is part of MyPlate (healthy eating guideline), but that we educate those we serve about the importance of healthy eating as well. With support from the Miami Marlins, and Share Our Strength, Feeding South Florida is able to bring MyPlate into classrooms and to our partner agencies through a program called OrganWise Guys.

Every March, Feeding South Florida recognizes National Nutrition Month® to raise awareness of the 1 in 6 Americans who do not always have access to enough food to lead an active, healthy life. Feeding South Florida is committed to helping those who are food insecure access more healthful food to enjoy the taste of eating right.


In South Florida alone, there are almost 1 million individuals who struggle with hunger, including nearly 250,000 children and 130,000 seniors. The Feeding America network of food banks secures and distributes nearly 3.9 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually, almost 35M pounds of which were distributed by Feeding South Florida.

Feeding South Florida strives to provide those facing hunger not only with enough food to meet their needs, but also with increased access to healthy, nourishing food. This includes providing our clients with Foods to Encourage (F2E), such as fruits and vegetables, low-fat protein, whole grains and low-fat/non-fat dairy. These foods are emphasized in the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines, but they are often out of reach for many of the families we serve.  Nearly 70% of the food we distribute is classified as F2E.

Providing a range of fruits and vegetables to those facing hunger is a top priority. As part of this effort, Feeding America distributes more than 800 million pounds of fresh produce each year. Our goal is to increase our distribution of fresh produce to 1 billion pounds annually. In South Florida alone, nearly 300M pounds of produce goes to waste every year. Together with the Florida Association of Food Banks, Feeding South Florida works hard to reduce that waste by rescuing fresh produce from those who have it and bringing it to those who need it.


HungerandHealth.org: A microsite of Feeding America® to educate, connect and engage professionals on the intersections of food insecurity, nutrition and health. As a growing number of sectors, including academia and research, have increased their focus on hunger relief, Feeding America strives to provide a wider range of content, tools and healthy recipes.


The new and improved food pyramid that now uses a plate – a familiar image that that illustrates the five food groups that are the building blocks for a healthy diet. Before you eat, think about what goes on your plate! Click here for resources.


The United States is facing a public health crisis related to obesity and diet-related diseases including type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. While these diseases affect all segments of the population, they disproportionally impact many of the people who rely on the Feeding America network of food banks.

  • Two-thirds of adults and one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese.
  • One-third of children born after 2000 are expected to develop diabetes at some point in their lives; this number is fifty percent for African American and Latino children
  • A person’s health and chance of becoming sick and dying early are greatly influenced by powerful social factors such as education, income, housing and neighborhoods.
  • Individuals struggling with hunger are often disproportionately affected by chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
  • By its very nature, food insecurity makes it difficult to manage diet-related diseases, like diabetes, since regular access to healthful food is a core component of diabetes management.