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"Rainbow of Choice" Beefs Up New Food Pantry System

According to America's Second Harvest, an estimated 22 to 25 million Americans use food pantries annually. But instead of the traditional model of simply handing over a pre-bagged or -boxed container of standard food items, many are converting to a "Choice Pantry" system, in which clients clients get to choose among the food items offered.

Often, local educators with Ohio State University Extension help make the system work. And one even developed a companion "Rainbow of Choice" system to help guide client's choices among pantry items to help make sure their choices were nutritious.

Dan Remley, Ohio State University Extension educator in family and consumer sciences and community development in Butler County, developed Rainbow of Choice based on MyPyramid, the national Food Guidance System's five-color pyramid offering direction on healthful choices within the food groups. Pantries using the Rainbow of Choice system arrange food items according to food group, and give patrons a laminated 5-by-8-inch card indicating how many food items they can choose from each group -- grain, meat, dairy, fruit, vegetable, as well as "combination" and "miscellaneous." Volunteers assist in case questions arise. Using their selection card, clients can choose among options available that day: rice, not macaroni; apple juice, not tomato; kidney beans, not lentils. It all just depends on their family's personal preferences.

Remley assisted in a series of focus groups examining the transition to the new system. The research, led by assistant professor of human nutrition Hugo Melgar Quinonez, found "a great deal of food would go to waste" in the old system: Clients would sometimes throw away foods they didn't like or couldn't use. Allowing them to choose food items among a variety of offerings eliminated waste and, the focus groups revealed, "added some dignity and sense of ownership to the operation."

When it converted to a choice pantry, Toledo's Immaculate Conception food pantry adopted the Rainbow of Choice system with the assistance of Patrice Powers-Barker, program assistant in the Lucas County office of OSU Extension. "We can't say enough about the Rainbow of Choice -- as a benefit to the clients, to the volunteers, and for us as we continuously promote MyPyramid," Powers-Barker said. She said the system enables volunteers to share other nutrition and food safety messages with clients, as well. For example, when clients choose among frozen cuts of meat, they are offered an Extension fact sheet on how to safely thaw it at home. "It's more than just food security," Powers-Barker said. "It's an opportunity to share all sorts of educational information."

Remley is working on an educational video to reinforce nutritional messages and serve as an orientation to choice-based pantries. The DVD can be played in the waiting area of pantries to give clients an introduction to the system. In addition, he is working on developing training for choice pantry volunteers. A big advantage of the choice system is that volunteers have more one-on- one time with clients: Remley wants to help them use that time to help families make healthful food choices. The training will also help volunteers become more sensitive to cultural differences they may encounter.

"Dietary variety is one of the key messages -- 'Put the rainbow on your plate,'" Remley said. "We want to offer both healthy food and an educational experience."

Choice-based pantries also have started in Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery and Warren counties, many of which are using Remley's Rainbow of Colors system. Agencies in Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota and New York have also contacted Remley with interest in the system.

For information on starting a such a program in your community, contact:

Dan Remley
Extension Educator
Family and Consumer Sciences and Community Development
Butler County
remley.4@osu.edu
513-785-6652

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Created: 2008-04-14, Updated: 2008-04-14