USDA Nutrition Messages

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has replaced the Food Pyramid with a plate, MyPlate, that shows the types and quantities of food we should be eating to have a healthy diet. In its most simple terms, MyPlate gives the following advice:

Balancing Calories.

  • Enjoy your food, but eat less.
  • Avoid oversized portions.

Foods to Increase

  • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
  • Make at least half your grains whole grains.
  • Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce

  • Compare sodium on food labels, in foods like soup, bread and frozen meals and choose foods with the lower numbers.
  • Drink water instead of sugary drinks
ChooseMyPlate.gov logo
Fruits Grains
Protein Vegetables
Dairy

Nutrition

Six of the ten leading causes of death in the United States are linked to poor diets. The New York State Department of Health Division of Nutrition's goal is to improve the health of New Yorkers by providing nutritious foods and educating people about making healthy lifestyle choices.

The Division of Nutrition serves:

  • low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding and new mothers, infants, and preschool children
  • school-age children who live in high-risk areas
  • people in need of emergency food assistance
  • adults at risk for chronic disease
  • persons with AIDS
  • the frail elderly, children up to age 18, and functionally impaired adults in day care

Nutrition Programs

Nutrition-Related Information

North Carolina filmed a trip through the grocery store to provide tips on making healthier food and drink choices

Other New York State Programs

Healthy Families New York Visiting Program

Healthy Families is an evidenced-based home visiting program offering services and education to expectant parents and new families. The program promotes:

  • Child safety
  • Positive parenting skills and parent-child interaction
  • Optimal prenatal care and child health and development
  • Enhanced family self-sufficiency

The program is open to first-time parents as well as parents with multiple children, who are pregnant and/or have at least one child under three months old.
Visit www.healthyfamiliesnewyork.org to find out more.

mybenefits

New York State offers the "mybenefits" program. It's a fast and easy way to find out about many health and human services programs and how to apply for them - anytime and anywhere.

Visit the mybenefits website to find out more about WIC and other New York State programs and services. By entering household information, you will receive a list of programs for which you may be eligible.

ACCESS NYC

Do you live in New York City? ACCESS NYC is a free service that identifies and screens for over 30 City, State and Federal human service benefit programs. This service is available in many different languages.

You can use the ACCESS NY Public Health Insurance Eligibility Screening Tool to see which public health insurance programs you and your family may be eligible for. One application can be used to apply for Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, Medicaid and the Family Planning Benefit Program.

Visit the Access NYC website for more information.

To report waste, fraud and abuse in a Division of Nutrition food program, visit the Bureau of Special Investigations' web page for more information.