Good nutrition can help you prevent diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Staying healthy is essential to life-long wellness and makes you a good role model for younger people. Below are some tips and resources, courtesy of myplate.gov, to help you find and stay on the right “healthy eating” track.

women in grocery store

Build a Healthy Plate

Before you eat, think about what goes on your plate or in your cup or bowl. Foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein foods contain the nutrients you need without too many calories. For more information, visit the MyPlate website

myplate

Healthy Eating Tips

  • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
  • Switch to skim or 1% milk.
  • Make at least half your grains whole.
  • Vary your protein food choices.
  • Cut back on foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt.
  • Choose foods and drinks with little or no added sugars.
  • Watch out for hidden salt (sodium) in foods you buy – it all adds up.
  • Eat fewer foods that are high in solid fats.
  • Eat the right amount of calories for you as often as you can.
  • Cook more often at home, where you are in control of what’s in your food.
  • When eating out, choose lower calorie menu options.
  • Write down what you eat to keep track of how much you eat.
  • If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so sensibly — 1 drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day for men.
  • Keep your food safe. Learn more at www.FoodSafety.gov.

mom and kids cooking

Nutrition Programs

PATH

PATH helps people better manage their long-term health conditions by learning strategies to deal with pain, fatigue, difficult emotions, and more.

Better Choices, Better Health®

Better Choices, Better Health® is a 6-week small group workshop offered on a dedicated website to help people living with chronic conditions to manage them better.

Cooking Matters at the Store

Cooking Matters at the Store is a free program of the No Kid Hungry campaign that empowers families to stretch their food budgets so their children get healthy meals at home.