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Simply Good Eating
Simply Good Eating gives you ideas for fresh, flavorful, low-cost meals along with ways to put more activity into your life. Did you know you can double your SNAP benefits at some farmers markets? Learn more and find recipes
Class Topics
We teach on a wide range of topics. Our most popular topics are listed below. Click on a topic for additional online resources or scroll down on this web page for more information on our Simply Good Eating classes. Classes are free for those who meet income guidelines.
Behind the Scenes at Simply Good Eating
East Central Minnesota Simply Good Eating Program
Transcript (126 K PDF)
Watch this video to learn more about active living and healthy eating on a budget: English | Español | Lus Hmoob | Soomaali
See the map below to contact your regional Simply Good Eating program.
Ways to Participate
We teach throughout Minnesota. We partner with other organizations to provide:
- Group sessions in your neighborhood grocery store, food shelf, WIC clinic, or Head Start
- Simply Good Cooking (378 K PDF) and Cooking Matters® Minnesota courses
- One-time events at community partner sites like schools, day-care center, shelters, and county Human Services offices
- In-home visits (limited availability)
Try It — You'll Like It!
Everyone can find something to like about Simply Good Eating. Here’s what some of our participants have to say:
- “Guess what I do every single day of my life? Every day I eat super yogurt for breakfast, just like we learned in class!”— Fourth grader from Lake County when talking to the community educator he remembered from HeadStart Simply Good Eating classes
- “I thought it was going to be a chore but really enjoyed and learned a lot. Awesome!!"— Young mother from St. Louis County, a self-described picky eater
- "I've learned how to stretch my money for food. I've also learned how to cook quick and good tasting meals. I learned to eat some foods from each of the food groups...I know that it's better to eat food that is colorful and has variety from each group. I really enjoy these classes and had a lot of my questions answered." — Isanti County mother
Contact Your Regional Simply Good Eating Program
Click on your county or region on the map below or call 612-625-7070 to find out what is available in your area. Interested in partnering with Extension? Visit the For Partners section.
Central Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Margaret Haggenmiller, St. Cloud Regional Program Coordinator, 952-454-2007, mjh@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
East Metro Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Dakota County — Sharmyn Phipps, 651-480-7724
Ramsey County — Greg Sorensen, 651-704-2068
Scott County — Sharmyn Phipps, 651-480-7724
Ross Safford, Family Development Program Coordinator, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
East Central Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Kam Schroeder, Mora Regional Program Coordinator, 320-679-8478, olso1302@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Program Coordinator, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Heartland Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Stephanie Hakes, Brainerd Regional Program Coordinator, 320-632-0161, hakes006@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Red River Valley Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Karen Myszkowski, Crookston Regional Program Coordinator, 218-281-8688, myszk005@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Pine to Prairie Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Ronda Gripentrog, Moorhead Regional Program Coordinator, 218-643-5481, gripe002@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
North Prairie Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Jodi Gravning, Morris Regional Program Coordinator, 320-589-1711, grav0129@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Southwest Prairie Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Bonnie Ludeman, Marshall Regional Program Coordinator, 507-337-2821, ludem001@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Riverbend Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Andrea Kronbach, Mankato Regional Program Coordinator, 507-389-6978, kronb007@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Homestead Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Jan Beyer, Rochester Regional Program Coordinator, 507-457-6440, beyer027@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Northeast Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Jodi Nordlund, Grand Rapids Regional Program Coordinator, 218-327-5965, nordl058@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
West Metro Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Anoka County — Cindy Gerdes, Andover Regional Program Coordinator, 763-767-3873, gerde031@umn.edu
Hennepin and Carver Counties — Fay McLain, Andover Regional Program Coordinator, 612-624-4827 or 612-596-2117, mclai001@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
East Metro Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Dakota County — Sharmyn Phipps, 651-480-7724
Ramsey County — Greg Sorensen, 651-704-2068
Scott County — Sharmyn Phipps, 651-480-7724
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Related Resources
For Partners — Learn more about the Simply Good Eating program and how it works.
Nutrition for the Underserved: The Implications — Results from focus groups with limited resource individuals. Highlights implications for four different cultural groups.
Healthy Eating — Support your health at every stage of life with the foods you eat.
Active Living — Keep your body moving daily in big and small ways to maintain or improve your health.
Home Cooking — Find simple tasty recipes that fit your budget and tips on preparing and storing food.
Smart Shopping — Learn to make smart food choices on a limited budget.
Other Resources
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Food Assistance Programs — Minnesota Department of Human Services — Learn how to apply for food assistance and other food support.
Find Hunger and Food Resources— Hunger Solutions Minnesota — Find a food shelf, Meals on Wheels, Summer Food Service Program, food support office, or WIC program near you.
Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Program — Minnesota Department of Health — Supplemental food program for pregnant women, infants and children. Find an office near you: English | Spanish | Hmong | Somali
Bridge to Benefits Minnesota — Children's Defense Fund — Learn about support programs and tax credits; see if you are eligible. English | Spanish
