FoodWIse
FoodWIse
FoodWIse employs a combination of evidence-based strategies designed to promote changes for individuals, communities, and enverionements to help make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Important Update: The congressional budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4, 2025 ends federal SNAP-Ed funding effective September 30, 2025.
For more than 30 years, UW–Madison Extension has provided local nutrition education across Wisconsin through the federal SNAP-Ed grant program. Working with schools, food pantries, farmers markets, and community centers, FoodWIse has taught practical, evidence-based skills in meal planning, food safety, and food resource management, helping people stretch food dollars and make healthier choices.
Extension is currently navigating the difficult process of winding down SNAP-Ed-funded programming. FoodWIse programming in Manitowoc County will continue through September 30, 2026.
We know you may have questions. To view a FAQ list, visit the following site: https://health.extension.wisc.edu/foodwise/
What is FoodWIse?
FoodWIse advances healthy eating habits, active lifestyles and healthy community environments for families with limited incomes through nutrition education at the individual, community and systems levels.
Each year FoodWIse delivers nutrition education to more than 50,000 participants statewide. Partnering with community-based organizations, we use a combination of evidence-based strategies designed to promote change for individuals, families and communities and help make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Introduce
Introduce children to new fruits and vegetables and teach them why they are important.
Teach
Teach parents how to buy, plan and prepare healthy meals.
Engage
Engage families with limited resources in support of choosing healthy diets while stretching food dollars.
Support
Support communities in making the healthy choices where people live, learn, work, play and worship.
Statewide FoodWIse Programs
Strong Bodies
The Wisconsin StrongBodies Program, based on the National StrongPeople Program, empowers individuals of all ages to live stronger, healthier lives. Through community-based strength training programs, participants improve fitness, build strength, gain confidence, and connect socially, enhancing overall well-being.
Safe & Healthy Food Pantries
The Safe and Healthy Food Pantries Project was developed to provide food pantries with guidance on how to improve the nutritional quality and safety of their food inventories. You can adopt these strategies and tools as appropriate for your pantry and guests.
Discover Wisconsin Farmers’ Markets
The Discover Wisconsin Farmers Markets program addresses the need for greater access to fresh, local foods in Wisconsin communities. By providing comprehensive guides and support, the program helps health educators and market managers lead successful tours that enhance participants’ understanding of local food sources and healthy eating.
Harvest of the Month
The Wisconsin Harvest of the Month campaign encourages children and families to eat more fruits and vegetables by featuring a seasonal, Wisconsin-grown fruit or vegetable each month. Students taste, explore, and learn about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.
Great Apple Crunch
The Great Apple Crunch is an annual October event that promotes local food purchasing and encourages healthy eating during National Farm to School Month. For this simple event, schools, organizations, and households across Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest region commit to crunch into local apples in October.
WI Chili Lunch
The Wisconsin (WI) Chili Lunch is an annual event designed to promote healthy eating and support local agriculture in institutions like early care and education settings, schools, hospitals, and community-based organizations. Institutions across the state prepare and serve chili made with locally sourced ingredients, encouraging diners to appreciate fresh, local produce and fostering connections between schools and local farmers.
