Food Shopping and Meal Planning
Top 10 Reasons to Shop at a Farmers Market
Why shop at a farmers market? Fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables are just a few reasons. See what this Nutrition.gov registered dietitian has to say to shoppers and farmers.
Find a Farmer's Market in Your State
USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service.
Search for a farmer's market in your state based on specific criteria such as city, county, or zip code.
USDA MyPlate Food Guidance System
USDA. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
The MyPlate food guidance system replaces MyPyramid. The Daily Food Plan can help you choose the foods and amounts that are right for you.
DHHS. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
Make a healthy foods shopping list, based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.
DHHS. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
Money saving tips before going to the store, at the store, and later at home to help healthy eating fit into your lifestyle and budget.
DHHS. NIH. NHLBI. We Can!
Bringing balanced nutrition home is easier with a smart shopping list and knowledge about the Nutrition Facts label and healthy choices.
DHHS. NIH. NHLBI. Obesity Education Initiative.
Cook healthier by using a shopping list and keeping a well-stocked kitchen, starting with foods provided on this tipsheet.
USDA. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
Tips from Choose MyPlate.
10 Tips for Making Healthy Foods More Fun for Children
USDA. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
Tip Sheet of Kid-Friendly Veggies and Fruits from Choose MyPlate.
USDA. NAL. FNIC. Healthy Meals.
What fruits and vegetables are in season now? When you buy produce at its peak growing time you save money and you get the freshest selection.
Importance of Colors
North Dakota State University, Agriculture
Learn the importance of different colors in fruits and veggies.
USDA. Food and Nutrition Service.
Suggestions for deciding what to buy, figuring out food costs, finding ways to spend less, and smart shopping tips.
USDA. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
Add more seafood to your meals with this tip sheet from Choose MyPlate.
DHHS. NIH. NHLBI. Obesity Education Initiative.
A list of low-calorie/lower-fat alternatives to provide new ideas for old favorites.
DHHS. NIH. NHLBI. Obesity Education Initiative.
Provides information on low-calorie shopping, fat-free versus regular, and low-calorie, lower fat alternative foods.
DHHS. NIH. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Tests your knowledge of portions and serving sizes. Download a Serving Size Card (PDF|121 KB) to help you recall what a standard food serving looks like.
DHHS. NIH. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
The "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" eating plan features plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other foods that are heart healthy and lower in salt/sodium. Booklet contains a week's worth of sample menus and recipes recalculated using 2005 nutrient content data. Also contains additional information on weight loss and physical activity.
DHHS. NIH. NIDDK. Weight-control Information Network.
This brochure shows you how to use serving sizes to help you eat just enough for you. Also in PDF|996 KB.
Produce for Better Health Foundation.
A tip a day to help you stretch your fruit and vegetable budget for National Fruits & Veggies-More Matters™ Month.
USDA. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
A seven day menu which provides all of the recommended amounts of nutrients and foods from each MyPlate food group at a 2000 calorie level.
10 Steps to Help You Fill Your Grocery Bag Through SNAP
USDA. Food and Nutrition Service.
Offers tools to help you learn if you or someone you know might be eligible for SNAP. Also in Spanish.
DHHS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Every body is different. Enter your age, sex, and level of physical activity to find the amount that's right for you with this interactive fruit and vegetable calculator.
DHHS. NIH. NLM. MedlinePlus.
Interactive multimedia tutorial on diabetes and meal planning.
DHHS. NIH. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Helps design meal plans for several calorie levels (1200 to 2,000). Can be used in advance to plan a meal, or at the end of a day to add up total calories, fat and carbohydrates.
Produce for Better Health Foundation.
These databases feature information on selection, storage, nutrition information & benefits, and more!
DHHS. Food and Drug Administration.
Educate yourself on food safety techniques such as purchasing safe food, practicing safe handling while in the kitchen, and properly storing food and leftovers. Also in PDF|120 KB.
