The warmth and joy of the holidays often stirs the giving spirit, boosting donations to food banks. All contributions are welcome, of course, but food donors can add extra value to their gifts by making careful choices when scouring the pantry or grocery store for food contributions, say UC Cooperative Extension nutrition educators.

UCCE’s nutrition education program, known as UC CalFresh, teaches good-sense eating on a budget to low-income families throughout California. The educators’ extensive experience training families who face food insecurity has given them insight into the needs of food bank clients.

“People who get help from food banks are often at risk...