Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation in fruit and vegetable consumption, with only 8% of adults meeting the USDA’s daily recommendations, and cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes are rampant. That’s why Oklahoma Nutrition Information Education (ONIE) developed the “Choose Homemade” campaign to educate Oklahomans and help them incorporate nutritious homemade meals into their daily routines, providing budget-friendly tips and quick recipes for busy families to make healthier eating choices.
ONIE is a valuable, free resource offering healthy recipe options, and its “Choose Homemade” campaign is about educating, delivering affordable solutions and relieving families of the burden of high-cost healthy eating by helping them feel less stressed and more hopeful about their ability to eat better.
“Choose Homemade” addresses the challenges of balancing nutrition with the demands of family life and helps promote the idea that healthy eating does not mean a compromise on taste or convenience. The suggested ingredients are common and affordable, making nutritious meals accessible to all Oklahomans. Recipes are backed by thorough research, taste-tested by local families and certified dietitians and aligned with the USDA’s MyPlate food groups.
“The mission behind ‘Choose Homemade’ is simple: Make the healthy choice the easy choice,” said ONIE Project Director Meredith Scott. “We aim to inform and inspire Oklahomans to make healthier eating choices by educating them on home meal preparation and providing resources for healthy living to those with limited financial resources. With grocery and food costs on the rise, many Oklahomans are looking for ways to make nutritious homemade meals fit into their everyday lives and budgets.”
Hunger costs Oklahoma over $1.4 billion annually. Food insecurity affects 14.5% of households, with 33% in low-income and low-access areas, rising to 42% in urban and 32% in rural households. Children, elderly and the disabled make up 67% of SNAP participants.
“Oklahoma ranks 46th in the nation for overall food insecurity and 45th in overall health,” Scott said. “The Oklahoma State Department of Health also reports that Oklahoma has seen a steady increase in rates of obesity over the past two decades, with 36.4% of adults in Oklahoma considered obese.”
Poverty significantly impairs the ability to eat healthy in several ways, including limited access to resources, limited access to food, lack of education and resources, higher levels of stress and time constraints due to working longer hours.
“Many Oklahomans are living with limited resources and have to prioritize medicine, housing or other basic needs over healthy food options,” Scott said. “Residents often don’t have access to nutritious food staples, or they’re priced out of adding those staples to their pantry. On a limited budget, there’s pressure to stick to what is reliable to avoid food waste. Poverty significantly impacts the ability to make healthy food choices, influencing both access to nutritious food and dietary choices.”
Addressing challenges is crucial for improving health outcomes and breaking the cycle of poor nutrition and economic hardship, ultimately fostering healthier, more resilient communities.
“‘Choose Homemade’ creates resources and recipes meant to inspire Oklahomans to eat healthier” Scott said. “We take everyday foods and recipes and give them a healthier spin. For example, our Easy Gourmet Ramen takes packaged ramen and reduces sodium by swapping the seasoning packet for vegetables and other common ingredients that add flavor. Our online recipe finder helps you find a recipe that fits your family, filtering through meal type, cooking method, time, theme and specific ingredients. This makes it easier for Oklahomans to maximize their groceries and cook homemade meals using readily available ingredients. [In addition] we are always looking for new community partners who also serve Oklahomans with limited incomes. ONIE has a variety of projects beyond Choose Homemade that create access to healthy food, teach nutrition and promote physical activity. Join us and be a part of our community efforts!”
To learn more about ONIE and “Choose Homemade,” visit oneiproject.org and choosehomemade.org.
