The Best Items to Donate to a Food Pantry

Kelly Toups

Hunger and obesity are often two sides of the same coin. People who have low incomes and who rely on food assistance also tend to be at a higher risk for diet-related diseases. This is not a group who can afford to eat unhealthfully, especially if their financial situation prevents them from getting all of the medical care they need.

Luckily, food assistance organizations and community centers around the world are working harder than ever to bring healthy foods and ingredients, like whole grains, into the spotlight. While food assistance doesn't address the root causes of hunger or poverty, programs that prioritize health, rather than undermine it, are of utmost importance when times are tough. This is especially true for children, who depend on the right mix of nutrients to help them learn and grow.

[See: 9 Foods That Can Keep Your Brain Sharp.]

So where does that leave you as someone who wants to help? As the saying goes, if you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence. Here's how to ensure that your contribution is making a positive impact:

1. Donate shelf-stable, nutrient-dense foods.

Food banks pride themselves on nourishing their constituents with healthy foods. Refrigerator space comes at a premium, so the most useful donations are often foods that are both nutrient dense and nonperishable, such as dried fruit, peanut butter, canned salmon, low-sodium canned vegetables and whole grains.

Grains are versatile and shelf stable, so these ingredients are also often in high demand at food banks. But highly-processed grain products, featuring white flour and other refined ingredients, are all too common at food assistance centers, and the demand for whole grains continues to grow. These healthier versions of pantry staples are great for stretching a small amount of meat or vegetables into a hearty, satisfying meal. Here are some suggestions from food banks around the country about which types of grain foods they need most:

-- Brown rice

-- Oatmeal

-- Whole-grain pasta

-- Whole-grain breakfast cereals (especially ones lower in sugar)

-- Granola bars (especially ones without too much sugar)

-- Popcorn

-- Whole-grain grits

-- Quinoa (or other whole grains, like bulgur or farro)

-- Whole-wheat flour

2. Donate food staples from other cuisines.

More and more community food centers are offering cooking classes and recipe tips, which offer ideas on how to use these ingredients in easy, nutritious meals. Because recipients come from all different backgrounds and countries, food pantry directors note an especially strong need for culturally familiar food options. Depending on your community, some useful donations might include:

-- Whole-wheat tortillas

-- Whole corn tortillas

-- Brown basmati or brown jasmine rice

-- Black rice

-- Whole-wheat roti or chapatti

-- Whole-wheat naan

-- Whole-wheat pita bread

-- Whole-grain matzo crackers

-- Whole-grain grits

-- Whole-grain biscuit mix

-- Soba noodles

-- Injera bread

[See: Here's What People Eat for Breakfast in 9 Other Countries.]

3. Give credit where it's due.

To celebrate Whole Grains Month this September, the Oldways Whole Grains Council is running a "Good Grains for a Good Cause" campaign to help bring healthier foods to those who need it most. Now through September 30, you can make a difference to those in need by nominating a food-related charity (such as a food pantry or soup kitchen) to win cases and cases of whole-grain foods. Just go to our website, WholeGrainsCouncil.org, to find out more.

Kelly Toups, MLA, RD, LDN is the staff dietitian at Oldways, and serves as Director of the Oldways Whole Grains Council. Through her training in dietetics, gastronomy, and food policy, Kelly communicates the science-backed health benefits of traditional diets to consumers, health professionals, and industry stakeholders. To learn more, visit oldwayspt.org or follow us @OldwaysPT.