Food Smarts Adapted for Recovery Instructor Guide

Food Smarts Adapted for Recovery is an interactive, learner-centered nutrition curriculum adapted to meet the needs of adults in substance use recovery and treatment. Lessons are designed to build nutrition and food literacy and confidence, and are aligned with trauma-informed principles and the most recent Dietary Guidelines.

There are six 90-minute lessons which can be taught by trained facilitators as a series or single sessions in community spaces with or without a kitchen. The content was developed by Leah’s Pantry in collaboration with Washington State SNAP-Ed.

Curriculum Objectives:

• Build skills and confidence to apply basic nutrition concepts to support physical health, mental health, and substance use recovery.
• Reconnect/connect participants with their capacity to care for and nourish themselves and their families.
• Provide opportunities for peer-to-peer support to sustain health over the long term.
• Encourage movement and mindfulness activities to practice self-regulation and reinforce the mind-body connection.
• Foster feelings of competence, satisfaction, and joy in caring for health. Food Smarts has been used extensively in SNAP-Ed (USDA-funded) programs and in a wide variety of settings, including housing communities, shelters, medical clinics, family resource centers, and food distribution sites.

Lesson plans of various lengths have been used and evaluated over the years, demonstrating the ability of Food Smarts to meet the programming needs of a wide variety of situations. More specifics on curriculum modification can be found on pages 22-23. Food Smarts evaluations consistently show statistically significant changes in the consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as sugary beverages. For more information about evaluation methods and indicators, please contact Leah’s Pantry. This Instructor Guide supports the Food Smarts Adapted for Recovery Workbook.