Balanced Nutrition
Eating foods that provide balanced nutrition gives us energy and makes us feel good. It also helps calm our brain and body when stressful things happen in our life.
It can be a challenge to eat healthy. It’s not so simple these days to find food that is both healthy and affordable. In addition, when we are stressed, we might not be hungry at all, or we might crave potato chips and ice cream. See these Stress Buster tips for healthy eating.
Experiencing a crisis? See these crisis and safety resources.
Resources for Professionals
Looking for resources to help address Balanced Nutrition with patients and clients? See Professional Resources within the Stress Busters for Community-Based Organizations toolkit.
Resources for Everyone
Want tips and tools to help you feel nourished? The following articles, videos, and audio tools can help.
General
- DID YOU KNOW? Eating Healthier Can Prevent and Manage Stress (ACEs Aware)
- Balanced Nutrition Stress Buster Video (California Virtual Training Academy)
- Stress and Health (Harvard School of Public Health)
- Mindful Eating (Harvard School of Public Health)
- Beat Your Cravings (Mayo Health Clinic)
Healthy Eating
- MyPlate Kitchen recipe database
- Start Simple with MyPlate App
- Eat Fresh recipe and nutrition resource (CalFresh)
- The Ultimate Expert-Approved Diet Plan for a Happier, Less-Stressed You (Everyday Health)
- Foods that Fight Inflammation (Harvard Health Publishing)
- Overview and food list for the Mediterranean diet (Cleveland Clinic)
- Overview of vegetarian, vegan, and meatless meals (American Heart Association)
- Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutrition (Mayo Clinic)
- Processed Foods: A Closer Look (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
- Processed vs. ultra-processed food, and why it matters to your health (American Heart Association)
On A Budget
- Healthy Eating on A Budget (USDA MyPlate)
- 6 Tips for Eating Healthy on A Budget (CDC Diabetes)
- Eat Right When Money’s Tight Tips (US Department of Agriculture)
- Information about farmers’ markets that take food stamps:
- Find A Farmers Market Near You that Takes EBT
- Spending Your CalFresh EBT at the Farmers Market is Easy
Get Help with Food
- Get money for food – Apply for the SNAP program (CalFresh)
- Food and nutrition program for growing families (CA Department of Public Health – Women, Infants & Children (WIC))
- 2-1-1: Text, call, or connect at the website for local food resources
- USDA National Hunger Hotline:
- phone: 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE
- text: 914-342-7744
During Pregnancy
- Nutrition During Pregnancy Frequently Asked Questions: Information on nutrition, vitamins, planning healthy meals, and weight gain (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
- Pregnancy: Learn about nutrition and pregnancy, including foods to avoid and foods to eat, prenatal supplements, and weight gain (USDA)
- Healthy Parents (CA Department of Public Health – WIC)
Infants (Breastfeeding, Chestfeeding, and Bottle Feeding)
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Information about healthy food, foods to avoid, making a meal plan, and supplements (USDA)
- Tips for Breastfeeding Moms (USDA)
- Your Guide to Breastfeeding: Ways to find support, learning to breastfeed, common challenges, and common questions (Office on Women’s Health)
- National Breastfeeding Helpline: (800) 994-9662
- Breastfeeding Basics for Dads: Your Breastfeeding Questions Answered (USDA)
- Breastfeeding (CA Department of Public Health – WIC)
- Safe Breastfeeding and Bottle-Feeding Support (Fedisbest.org)
- How NOT Breastfeeding Saved Me Video (Dr. Devika Bhushan)
- “I Always Pictured Breastfeeding My Kids. Then My Psychiatrist Recommended Against It.” (Dr. Devika Bhushan, Slate)
- Tips for infant formula feeding (CDC)
- Chestfeeding if you’re trans or non-binary (United Kingdom National Health Service)
- WIC Supports Parents Who Chestfeed (CA Department of Public Health – WIC)
- LGBTQI+, Lactating, Breastfeeding, and Chestfeeding (Golisano Children’s Hospital)
Parents and Kids
- Eating Well (Sesame Workshop)
- Stress Health: Nutrition (Center for Youth Wellness)
- Tips for Nutrition English, Spanish, Portuguese (Center for Youth Wellness)
- How to cook videos for kids in English and Spanish (Cooking with Kids)
- Recipes for kids (Cooking with Kids)
- Use the recipe finder for picky eaters (Cooking Matters)
- Get kids started on a healthy eating adventure with games and activities (USDA MyPlate)
- Nutrition and Health (CA Department of Public Health – WIC)
Youth and Young Adults
- Live Beyond Campaign: Eat Well (Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative )
- Healthy Eating for Teens (USDA My Plate)
As We Age
- Healthy Eating, Nutrition, and Diet (National Institute on Aging)
- Nutrition and Exercise (National Council on Aging)
NUTRITION INFORMATION ON FOOD PACKAGING
- Understanding Food Nutrition Labels (American Heart Association)
- How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- Reading Food Labels (Kids Health)
Download the complete set of Stress Busters handouts. English and Spanish included.
Download the complete set of Stress Busters handouts. English and Spanish included.
