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Nourishing Healthy Starts

Food insecurity during pregnancy has significant long-term health impacts on moms and babies. Mothers have greater risk of chronic conditions and complications during pregnancy, and infants are more likely to be born early and underweight.

The Nourishing Healthy Starts program provide birthing people and their families with biweekly fresh produce and grocery boxes, monthly nutrition education classes and parent support groups, as well as connections to community and medical resources and supports.

Each participant is paired with a maternal health advocate who offers personalized support, connects families to community and medical resources, and provides guidance throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period. In addition, participants build community through peer support.

Together, these benefits help prevent many of the health effects and high costs associated with food insecurity during pregnancy, including chronic conditions and complications for mothers and extended neonatal intensive care stays for infants.

Impact

Since September 2023:

  • 200+ babies have been born to program participants
  • Nearly 90% of babies are born at a healthy birth weight
  • Families receive consistent access to nutritious food and support during a critical life stage

Healthy birth weight is a key indicator of long-term health, reducing the risk of complications for infants and lowering the likelihood of extended neonatal intensive care stays. Nourishing Healthy Starts not only supports families—it has the potential to reduce long-term healthcare costs.

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Watch this short video about the Nourishing Healthy Starts program.

Fresh Food and Support

For Expectant Moms and Their Families

By providing nutrient-dense food, Nourishing Healthy Starts (NHS) is preventing many of the health effects and high costs caused by food insecurity during pregnancy. Deliveries for babies born underweight cost $44,000 more than babies delivered at a healthy weight. These infants are also at risk of being admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) which costs $76,000 on average per stay.

Nourishing Healthy Starts

Program Components

Nourishing Healthy Starts connects pregnant women, all birthing people and their families with nutritious foods and provides resources for a healthy household.

Grocery and Produce Delivery

Biweekly produce and grocery boxes deliver fresh, locally-grown produce, protein, dairy, and grains.

Culinary and Cooking Support

Cooking classes, tutorials, and problem-solving help families build skills and comfort in the kitchen.

Safety Net Enrollment Assistance

All participants receive assistance enrolling in public nutrition programs such as SNAP and WIC, as needed.

Maternal Health Support

Families receive help identifying and meeting their goals along with care coordination and connections to other community resources.

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