Good nutrition is essential in keeping healthy across the lifespan. People with healthy eating patterns live longer and are at low risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The availability of affordable, healthy food allows people to make better food choices and can help to prevent the onset of health problems later in life.
Food and Nutrition Education Resources
There are resources available that offer food assistance to Coloradans in everyday situations, as well as during emergencies and disasters.
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Colorado WIC offers food assistance; nutrition education; breastfeeding counseling and pumps; and the support you need to keep your family healthy. Your family may be eligible for all the great benefits Colorado WIC provides. - Cooking Matters
Cooking Matters is a program run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. Through Cooking Matters, we offer cooking classes and educational sessions to help parents and caregivers develop their skills when shopping for and cooking health foods on a budget.
Call or stop by our office to speak with a Public Health Nurse about our Cooking Matter Program. - Breastfeeding Essentials
Breastfeeding is good for both you and your baby. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. As your baby grows, your breast milk will change to meet his or her nutritional needs. Breastfeeding can also help protect you and your baby against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases.
For more information on breastfeeding and to find local resources, visit the Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition.
Healthy Eating Guidelines
Dietary Guidelines for Americans created 4 overarching guidelines for 2020-2025:
- Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage.
- Customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverage choices to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions, and budgetary considerations.
- Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and stay within calorie limits.
- Limit foods and beverages higher in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, and limit alcoholic beverages.
Nutrition Education Resources
- CDC Nutrition Education and Resources
- USDA MyPlate – Learn how to eat healthy!
- USDA Nutrition Education and Food Safety Resources