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.

Read the Balanced Nutrition handout

Experiencing a crisis? See these crisis and safety resources.

Crisis and Safety Resources

Resources

Want tips and tools to help you feel nourished? Here are resources that provide articles, videos, and audio tools.

General tips

Start simple with the MyPlate App
Balanced Nutrition Stressbuster Video and Resources (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)
Leah’s Pantry: A community organization with a mission “to build and implement community nutrition and food security programs that align with trauma-informed, resilience-focused principles.”
Stress Health: Nutrition (Center for Youth Wellness)

Eating Healthy on a Budget

Healthy Eating on a Budget (USDA MyPlate)
6 Tips for Eating Healthy on A Budget (CDC Diabetes)
Eat Right When Money 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

If you are struggling getting enough food, these resources can help

CalFresh: California’s food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) program
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

For Parents and Kids

Cooking with kids provides videos, recipes, and tips.
Use the recipe finder at Cooking Matters for picky eaters.
Get kids started on a healthy eating adventure with games and activities at USDA MyPlate.

During Pregnancy

Balanced nutrition for women of childbearing age and pregnant women is vital to their own health as well as the health of their offspring.
- 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)
- WIC

Breastfeeding Resources

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: website with information about healthy food, foods to avoid, making a meal plan, and supplements (USDA)
Tips for breastfeeding moms: handout with quick tips (USDA)
Your Guide to Breastfeeding: a detailed guide that discusses ways to find support, learning to breastfeed, common challenges, and common questions (US Department of Health and Human Services)
National Breastfeeding Helpline
- (800) 994-9662
Breastfeeding Basics for Dads: Your Breastfeeding Questions Answered (USDA)

Download the complete set of Stress Busters handouts.