At Mealtime

LiveWell Greenville facilitates and supports local efforts to improve access to healthy foods where people live, work, learn, worship and play.

Our Goal

  • People have access to fresh, local produce close to home
  • People have more healthy choices when purchasing meals and snacks outside of the home
  • People eat more fresh, healthy, affordable foods

The Challenge

Making healthy food choices is not easy in an environment that promotes quick, pre-packaged foods high in sodium and fat.  Many people find it hard to eat the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables.  In Greenville County, only 17% of adults say they eat five or more servings per day (SCDHEC, 2009).  For the majority, barriers such as competing snacks in vending machines and convenience stores and poor access to fresh, local produce close to home, at work and in other settings outside the home make it difficult to eat healthy, nutritious food.

How will we increase access to healthy foods to help us LiveWell?

LiveWell Greenville partners will work with residents, neighborhood associations, municipal and county leaders, businesses, local organizations and others to increase access to fresh, local produce and healthy food choices.  There are three main areas of focus for impact:

  • Community gardens and urban farms - LiveWell Greenville partners offer technical assistance, links to resources including land use and zoning policies, tool lending, and procedures for garden participation, harvesting, and vandalism prevention
  • Satellite and traveling farmers’ markets – LiveWell Greenville will work with local partners to increase the reach of local markets through satellite and mobile market strategies
  • Healthy vending options – LiveWell partners will provide resources to vending operators and franchisees on healthy food options, pricing and labeling

Partners:  Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, Greenville Forward, Greenville Hospital System, Loaves and Fishes, Upstate Hunger Coalition, Greenville Technical College Culinary Institute, Clemson Extension Service, Clemson University Institute for Neighborhood and Family Life, Neighborhood Associations, Local Farmers, local food and convenience stores, other businesses