fruits and vegetablesEating healthy foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, contributes to overall health and wellbeing. Eating healthy is associated with decreased blood pressure and blood sugar. For women who are pregnant, eating healthy can reduce the risk of poor maternal and infant health outcomes such as low birth weight and premature birth. For preconception women, eating healthy can help to ensure a healthy pregnancy. For parents, being a good role model helps kids to grow up with healthy behaviors. A healthy food environment can support individuals to make healthy choices.

Overview Webinar: Supporting Healthy Eating: Strategies for Healthy Start Programs (Presented live 10/17/17)

 

Featured Resources

Find resources and strategies for your program to support participants and staff to eat healthy.

Working with participants?

Click the arrows below for resources to participants in eating healthy across the perinatal periods.

All Participants
Pregnant Participants
Postpartum Participants
Parenting Participants
  • Kids who help out in the kitchen are more likely to try healthy foods. Check out these tip sheets (English; Spanish) and this video for encouraging kids to help in the kitchen

 

Looking for ideas for your program?

Click the arrows below for resources for your program to support healthy eating.

Changes to Your Healthy Start Program Setting
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides a monthly supplement for purchasing nutritious food.Make The Pledge to offer healthy foods at meetings and events for participants. For example: make sure water and fruit/vegetables are available whenever food is served. Use these 9 Healthy Meeting Hacks.
  • Make at least 50% of vending machine items healthy, and put healthy items at eye level. (Sample Vending Machine layout)
  • Provide space for employees to store and prepare food brought from home.
  • Identify healthier food and beverages with a symbol (such as a heart)
  • For more on these and other ideas, see page 19-20 of CDC Worksite Health Scorecard
Healthy Eating Education Courses

 

Want to tap into community efforts?

Click the arrows below for resources to support healthy eating initiatives in your community.

Community Resources