Here at Food and Health Communications, Inc, we know that healthful snacking can be tough. There are so many pitfalls and sneaky foods that seem healthful (but aren't), that navigating the snacking landscape can be more than a little daunting. That's why you need a secret weapon. In this case, the secret weapon is...

Did you know that October is Health Literacy Month? Well, now you do! One of the easiest ways that I've found to build health literacy is to consult MyPlate. MyPlate is the USDA's guide to healthful and balanced meals, setting up standards and guidelines for each meal. Today, I'm including a link to a free download of a MyPlate poster at the bottom of this post...

We all remember that MyPlate's anniversary is in June, but the anniversary of MiPlato, the Spanish edition of MyPlate, can sometimes get forgotten during the back-to-school hustle and bustle. Well, here at Food and Health, we're not about to let that happen. September marks the second anniversary of MiPlato, and we're here to celebrate it!

It can be tough to teach kids about the importance of nutrition, especially when the material is on the dry side. Yet eating well is hugely important for children, especially as they grow and play. Instead of staying up all night trying to find a fresh take on MyPlate, why not try this activity book on for size?

When we held our last contest, we were bowled over by the fantastic responses we got from nutrition educators. It was terribly hard to choose a winner, but we thought we shouldn't end there. Instead, we wanted to share a few of our very favorite class ideas, so that you can get inspired too!

This summer has been an especially busy one here at Food and Health Communications, and I want to make sure that you don't miss a single thing that could make your life easier! We've been researching, recipe testing, and starting new projects all summer long, devoting ourselves to exciting products that can breathe new life into nutrition education. So, what have we been up to?

MyPlate is a fantastic guide to balanced eating, but did you know that it can help with portion control too? Yes, balancing your plate is important, but if that plate is the size of a football field, the meal won't be as healthful. It's just too much food. Serving size matters, and moderation is key.

Take a tour down the yogurt aisle of the grocery store and it will remind you of a showroom. I bet you will be surprised at how many new styles of products and choices you can buy.

It seems like it was just yesterday when we announced the report from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Committee. And now the next committee is working on the report for 2015. Here is a list of members and fun things you can do while you wait for the next report.

MyPlate is a great resource for making healthful, balanced meals. You probably knew that already. But did you know that following MyPlate can make a huge difference in "adjusting" prepared meals and making them better for you? With MyPlate's portion and proportion guidelines, a huge meal that was filled with empty calories can actually become balanced...

MyPlate’s birthday is here! Did you know that the USDA released its new food icon on June 2, 2011? How are you going to celebrate MyPlate’s birthday ?

Here are 2 new videos to help kids learn how to make a proper breakfast and lunch tray for the new school lunch rules. Nutritional Standards in the National School Lunch and Breakfast program require most schools to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat fluid milk in school meals; reduce the levels of sodium, saturated fat and trans fat in meals; and meet the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements.

Thanks to the Healthy Hungry Kids Act of 2010, there are big changes coming to school lunches near you. School lunches must now align more closely with USDA standards, which can be a bit of a daunting task. That's why we're here -- to make this transition easier. Let's start with our series of colorful and creative posters that are great resources for school lunch planning. Want to meet them?

November is American Diabetes Month, which makes today an excellent time to learn more about living healthfully with diabetes. After all, meal planning can be tricky, and it's key to have several nutritious snacks every day. So what exactly should go on your plate if you have diabetes? Why, that's why we're here -- to help you make a healthful, balanced plate at every meal!

Here at Food and Health Communications, we just love to cook. Lately, we've been thinking about the most important cooking lessons for a healthful lifestyle, which led us to create our Top Seven Cooking Lessons for Health series. This free set of nutrition handouts is chock full of useful information. It covers everything from crafting the best bowl of oatmeal to steaming vegetables perfectly.

MyPlate's summer message is to replace sugary drinks with water. There are tons of tasty ways to follow that advice, but one of our favorites is this delicious Cran Razzle Tea.

As a follow-up to Tuesday's article, today we thought we would feature a more in-depth look at what kinds of foods to use in order to replace foods that are loaded with empty calories.

Newspapers, magazines, and the evening news are filled with calls to eat less of this and more of that, but is simply subtracting certain foods from the diet the way to a healthful lifestyle? Find out in today's post!

Who doesn't love the Fourth of July? The food, the fireworks, the fun with friends and family -- all of these elements combine to make this holiday fun and memorable. However, in all the hullabaloo, it can be difficult to make healthful decisions. Luckily, MyPlate is full of great tips and tricks for having an exciting and healthful celebration.