Healthy eating helps young people grow, develop, and do well in school. It prevents childhood and adolescent problems such as obesity and iron-deficiency anemia. It also lowers the risk of future chronic disease such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, and it reduces potential health-care costs.

Try to follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Aim for fitness

• Try to maintain a healthy weight.
• Be physically active each day.

Build a healthy base

• Let the "MyPlate" model guide your choices.
• Choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains.
• Select a variety of fruits and vegetables daily.
• Keep food safe to eat.

Choose sensibly

• Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat.
• Opt for beverages and foods to moderate your intake of sugars.
• Select and prepare foods with less salt. 

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