PAFII Episode 17: Lindsey Seegers & Jenna Umbriac, Manna Food Center

Put a Fork In It!

00:00 / 1:41:54

About Lindsey Seegers

Lindsey Seegers, Manna Food Center

Lindsey Seegers is Manna Food Center’s Program Manager of Nutrition Education. At Manna, she recently co-designed a school bus turned mobile kitchen and pop-up pantry that provides culinary education to kids, and fresh produce to families with limited food access. For over four years, she has led multi-lingual Cooking Matters classes at the grocery store, teaching participants about shopping on a budget.

In addition to these roles, Lindsey also facilitates workshops on diabetes prevention for mothers of young children and for seniors at low-income apartment complexes. She speaks publicly about domestic hunger issues, healthy eating, and using social media for social justice.

Lindsey’s work has been featured by Share Our Strength, Voice of America, MyMCMedia, WDVM, and Green Door Gourmet. Currently, she is an active member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, where she served as a cookbook tester, children’s cookbook judge, and 2016 conference presenter on “Using Our Culinary Expertise for Good”.

Lindsey is an Adoption Speaker, and Licensed Episcopal Preacher, with a B.A. in Social Work, and a Graduate Certificate in Nutrition. She shares the kitchen with her husband and Australian Shepherd in Springfield, Virginia.

Get in touch with Lindsey: Email | LinkedIn

About Jenna Umbriac

Jenna Umbriac, Manna Food Center

Jenna Umbriac is a registered dietitian and Director of Programs and Policies at Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg, MD. At Manna, Jenna directs the weekend food assistance program, Smart Sacks, nutrition education programming, and designs policies to ensure Manna is providing a safe and healthful food supplement. She also works to provide regionally produced and nutritious food to Manna’s participants through donor education and partnerships with local farms and farm markets.

In addition to her work at Manna, Jenna serves as co-chair of the Montgomery County Food Council’s Food Recovery and Access working group.

Jenna has an M.S. in nutrition from Bastyr University and a B.S. in biology from Loyola University Maryland.

Get in touch with Jenna: Email

About Manna Food Center

Manna Food Center strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County, Maryland, through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Manna shares fresh produce and shelf stable food with around 33,000 neighbors each year. Manna’s vision is that our community is a place where all people at all times have access to safe, sufficient, nutritious food in order to lead fulfilling lives and contribute to making Montgomery County, Maryland, a place where all live in dignity.

Learn more about Manna Food Center: Website | Blog

Follow the adventures of Manny the Mobile Kitchen by following Manna Food Center on social media: #mannythemobilekitchen

Our Conversation

Two years ago I joined the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and through that I have met some awesome people – one of whom is Lindsey Seegers, the program manager for nutrition education at Manna.

The first time we met, she took me on a tour of the warehouse at Manna and showed me how they do things. I was so intrigued… This tour happened before I started this podcast, but as soon as I started the show, I immediately thought Lindsey would be a great person to have on. While I was there visiting, I also attended one of Lindsey’s “Eating Healthy on a Budget” classes in a Giant supermarket. So much of our conversation stuck with me and I knew she’d be great to have on.

In our wide reaching conversation, we discuss:

Nutrition: Manna’s point of view
How Manna is making a difference
How Manna stands out from other food bank operations
Food Security/Insecurity
Food Waste and Waste Prevention
The differences between food banks and food pantries
Cooking (especially with limited resources)
Food Education
Importance of Food-Based Nutrition on Personal Health
Food Labeling and Branding
Food Deserts
Composting
Making Smart Food Donations
Hunger – and why it’s a problem
And so much more!

Photos!

While I visited Manna for the interview, I captured some photos to give a little more of a visual of what is going on over there

The Manna warehouse.
Turkeys!
Staff and volunteers sort produce and other products into boxes, in preparation for the day’s pickup and deliveries.
Staff and volunteers sort produce and other products into boxes, in preparation for the day’s pickup and deliveries.
Staff and volunteers sort produce and other products into boxes, in preparation for the day’s pickup and deliveries.
Staff and volunteers sort produce and other products into boxes, in preparation for the day’s pickup and deliveries.
A frozen pizza was “rescued” from a grocery store – probably because it was nearing its sell by date.
Staff and volunteers sort produce and other products into boxes, in preparation for the day’s pickup and deliveries.
Staff and volunteers sort produce and other products into boxes, in preparation for the day’s pickup and deliveries.
Signs provide guidelines on freshness of produce and when it should be discarded.
Staff and volunteers sort produce and other products into boxes, in preparation for the day’s pickup and deliveries.
Staff and volunteers sort produce and other products into boxes, in preparation for the day’s pickup and deliveries.
Volunteers and staff sort food – here they sort meet products from the grocery store rescue program.
This bin of meats was full when I first walked by – before I had my camera out.
Manna receives a lot of bread and bakery items from donations and grocery store rescue programs. Bakery items are in overabundance because grocery stores routinely over-bake to maintain supplies for their customers. Then, when products are not sold, they are “rescued” by Manna, who gives them out sparingly, as these items don’t meet nutrition guidelines in the quantities they are received.
Manna receives a lot of bread and bakery items from donations and grocery store rescue programs. Bakery items are in overabundance because grocery stores routinely over-bake to maintain supplies for their customers. Then, when products are not sold, they are “rescued” by Manna, who gives them out sparingly, as these items don’t meet nutrition guidelines in the quantities they are received.
Manna receives a lot of bread and bakery items from donations and grocery store rescue programs. Bakery items are in overabundance because grocery stores routinely over-bake to maintain supplies for their customers. Then, when products are not sold, they are “rescued” by Manna, who gives them out sparingly, as these items don’t meet nutrition guidelines in the quantities they are received.
Manna receives a lot of bread and bakery items from donations and grocery store rescue programs. Bakery items are in overabundance because grocery stores routinely over-bake to maintain supplies for their customers. Then, when products are not sold, they are “rescued” by Manna, who gives them out sparingly, as these items don’t meet nutrition guidelines in the quantities they are received.
Manna sees an abundance of packaged/processed foods.
Food boxes are packaged to go to an off-site pickup location.
Food boxes are packaged to go to an off-site pickup location.
A staff person opens the loading dock.
Food boxes are packaged to go to an off-site pickup location.
Manna receives a lot of bread and bakery items from donations and grocery store rescue programs.
Manna places an emphasis on fresh, nutritional foods.
Manna places an emphasis on fresh, nutritional foods.
To the left: waste to be sent away for pig feed. To the right: onions and other cold items inside the large walk-in fridge.
Manna sends appropriate waste to a local farm for pig feed.
Manna places an emphasis on fresh, nutritional foods.
Boxes and bags of food are packed for Mannas program that provides weekend foods for school-children whose families may not be able to provide food when the kids are not at school.
The production list that guides packers to know how many boxes to prepare for the day’s pick up / how many families will be served.
Volunteers and staff prepare for the pick up.
Volunteers and staff prepare for the pick up.
Volunteers and staff prepare for the pick up.
Manna currently offers on-site pick up. A recipient selects her items for pick up.
A volunteer/staff person assists in bringing food to the recipients vehicle.
A couple who received their food.
Manna currently offers on-site pick up.
Manna currently offers on-site pick up.
Manna currently offers on-site pick up.
Manna recently converted a retired school bus into Manny the mobile kitchen and pantry, in order to provide on-site cooking and nutrition classes, as well as a portable food delivery system.
Manny the mobile kitchen and pantry.
Manny the mobile kitchen and pantry.
Inside Manny the mobile kitchen and pantry.
A fully functioning mini oven.
Inside Manny the mobile kitchen and pantry, a fully functioning stove and mini oven.
Running water in Manny the mobile kitchen.
Lindsey cuts a pomegranate.