The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, and every good choice can make a positive difference. But what exactly does “eating healthy” mean, and how does it look?
MyPlate is a helpful guide to show you what healthy eating looks like.
You can print this MyPlate Mini Poster. Share it with your family and keep it handy when meal planning. MyPlate Mini Poster
Use these simple tips to create healthy meals at home
- Plan meals around foods you already have on hand. See if you can include a food from each food group to create healthy and balanced meals.
- Engage kids of all ages in creating a shopping list. They can use the EatSmart recipe website to choose recipes they would like to try. Kids can also check out this Healthy Snack List and include the ingredients on the shopping list. Take the kids along to the store so they can learn about selecting healthy foods. Let them read from the list and have fun by challenging them to place items in the cart by food group or color.
- While at the grocery store, look for store brands instead of name brands. They are often very similar in quality and taste but are often priced lower.
- Take advantage of specials and coupons. Some stores have daily specials such as “Cheap Chicken Monday” - an affordable Rotisserie chicken that is cooked and ready to go! Use the chicken as a base and include other food groups by adding pasta and vegetables for a quick meal.
- Cook once, eat twice! Make a healthy dinner and pack leftovers for lunch the next day. Here is a great Chicken Power Wrap recipe in which you can use leftover chicken or turkey as a protein base to make a healthy lunch or snack.
Remember that making healthy choices often can make a positive impact on your health, little by little and bite by bite!
