Food Shelves to Offer Healthy Options

ST. PAUL (AP) - In an effort to combat obesity, Minnesota food shelves have been trying to offer healthier options to people in need. But they are finding that nutritious food is more expensive.

University of Minnesota associate professor and dietitian Susie Nanney says that it's not enough to just add healthy food - the food shelves need to reduce unhealthy items as well.

But often, those items are donated and the food shelves have trouble saying no to them.

The Minneapolis Health Department is working on that.

The Minneapolis Healthy Food Shelf Network was launched last spring to in an effort to get healthier items for food shelves. The network connects food shelves to new sources, like farmers markets. It also helps food shelves display healthy food prominently.