Nutrition and Healthy Eating

All SNAP-Ed nutrition education aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate. MyPlate focuses on whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy, and half the plate being fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and veggies are a popular topic in SNAP-Ed programs. Programs do things like teach classes and demo at farmers' markets. SNAP-Ed programs also help stores to increase produce sales.

An important MyPlate message is to make at least half your grains whole grains. SNAP-Ed programs teach this concept and evaluate the success of their classes. They often use materials in the SNAP-Ed Library.

SNAP-Ed nutrition education classes teach people to choose lean protein. Lean protein includes beans, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, and other foods. Many of these protein sources are economical and healthy. 

SNAP-Ed programs help people choose low-fat and fat-free dairy. Low-fat and fat-free dairy provides calcium as part of a healthy diet. It has many other nutrients as well.

Some SNAP-Ed communities had lead in their drinking water. SNAP-Ed programs, like the one in Michigan, stepped up. The program provided support in many ways. One way was by giving caregivers information about how to use nutrition to decrease lead absorption.