Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative, the faith-based community and others are proud to provide free, hot, sit-down meals to low-income Whitehall Township and Coplay Borough residents twice a month.

All are welcome to attend both meals, set for 4-6 p.m. the first Sunday and third Tuesday each month. Please attend and bring your family and friends. These meals are delicious!

Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley, 1988 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, will hold a meal Sept. 3. Call 703-346-8698 for more information.

Whitehall Active Community Center, 2301 Pine St., is holding a meal Sept. 19. Call 610-533-1357 for details.

For information about hosting a meal for 2024 or a guest wanting more information, call Karen Haberern, program chair, at 610-730-3184.

The next WCHI bingo is set for Sept. 10 at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay. Doors will open 1 p.m., and bingo starts 2 p.m.

The jackpot is $200. Play 15 board games and five paper specials. Bring your own chips and dabbers.

Food is available for purchase. Please bring a food item for our pantry. Any kind of canned soup would be great! All proceeds benefit WCHI.

For more information, call Liz Rogers, bingo chair, at 484-274-6687.

Sign up now for free classes on how to eat healthy on a budget, led by Julie Davitt, nutrition education adviser, at Penn State Extension, Allentown. Call 484-857-2736 or email jbd14@psu.edu.

Davitt will teach the classes in partnership with WCHI in the white building behind the pantry, 3024 S. Ruch St., Whitehall. Classes run 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25.

Topics will include delicious recipes, smart shopping, meal planning and preparation, food safety and nutrition. Learn more at extension.psu.edu/nutrition-links. Upon class completion, each participant will receive kitchen tools and a certificate of completion.

Parents or caregivers of children who qualify for free or reduced school lunch and adults who qualify for SNAP, food pantry boxes/bags and Pennsylvania farmers market vouchers qualify for these classes.

Here are some simple ways to increase fruit, vegetable and bean or legume intake at meals, from FeedingPA.org.

Use canned vegetables including tomatoes, beans, mushrooms or beets, and add into your favorite dishes.

Take convenience items such as soups or frozen meals and add in additional vegetables to boost the nutrition.

Replace half your meat with beans. Use black beans, kidney beans or lentils instead of beef or other ground meat. Use chickpeas or navy/white beans instead of chicken.

Add vegetables to your eggs at breakfast.

Add fruit to your hot or cold cereal.

Create smoothies with fruits and veggies.

Use a dip to encourage fruits and veggies as snacks for young children. Greek yogurt can be savory or sweet!

Make pizzas using whole-grain English muffins or pita bread. Add sauce, cheese and cut-up vegetables for toppings.

Saute onions and peppers and add to almost any casserole dish.

Add vegetables such as onions, carrots, tomatoes and spinach to your pasta sauce.

Make a stir-fry with your vegetables.

Add vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, spinach and cucumbers to your sandwich and replace mayonnaise with hummus or avocado.

Needed pantry items include any kind of canned fruit, canned soups, canned low-salt mixed vegetables and any kind of pasta.

Deliver items to my RE/MAX Unlimited office, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall. The office is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

I hope you found this week’s article informative and interesting. Have a great week!