The USDA’s ChooseMyPlate.gov website is full of great information, including sample menus and recipes.

• The Sample Menus for a 2000 Calorie Food Pattern is a 7-day healthy eating template. It is designed to supply the recommended amount of key nutrients. Even better, the food choices were chosen with cost to the consumer in mind. The cost of the menu items is less than the national average spent on food, per person, in a 4-person family.
• White House Recipes is a collection of healthy recipes with easy to follow instructions. Recipes include: Warm Baked Apples with Dried Cherries; Raisins and Blueberries; Broccoli Soup; and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese. 
• Food Group Recipes is another wonderful collection of recipes with nutrition in mind. Recipes include: Lemon Velvet Supreme; Corn Chowder; Roasted Root Vegetables; and Outtasight Salad.
• SNAP-Ed Connection Recipe Finderis a fantastic resource. This online collection includes: tips, food safety, and the ability to sort recipes by a wide range of categories. Recipes can be searched by: style, cooking equipment required, menu items, themes, nutrients, and cost.
  

  The USDA has several collections of low-cost and nutritious recipes available for free.

The USDA’s People’s Garden has a wide variety of resources for the home gardener, including recipes. Many of the recipes were developed by students in DC’s Central Kitchen Job Training Program.

The recipes are brimming with fresh vegetables and herbs. They include:

• Roasted Root Vegetable Medley
• Roasted and Curried Butternut Squash Soup
• Afghani Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Kabobs
• House Brined Pickles
• Summer Corn Salad
• Tomato Bruschetta
• Chinese Veggies and Rice
• Minted Cucumber and Tomato Salad
• Gazpacho Andaluz

We hope you enjoy them!

Home food gardens can help stretch food dollars and improve nutrition.

The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass is a valuable resource for food producers, community leaders and consumers.

This online multi-media resource provides seamless access to programs designed to support local food systems under the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative. This effort combines the work of 17 USDA agencies and is producing some powerful results.

From the USDA,

“The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass is a valuable resource documenting the innovation, entrepreneurship and impact of local food systems across the country. It [Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative] is driving job growth, keeping farmers and on the land, and keeping wealth in rural communities. We invite you to dive deep into this new tool, and be inspired by the stories it tells and the ideas it can spur for you and your community.”

Much of the information at the site is shared in a narrative format, providing viewers with an in-depth, inside look into the nation’s local food systems.

Topics include:

• The what and why of local foods
• What is Know Your Farmer?
• Local food infrastructure
• Stewardship and local food
• Local meat and poultry
• Farm to institution
• Healthy food access
• Careers in agriculture
• Local food knowledge
• Local food: Not Just USDA
• Case studies
• Conclusions
• Grants, loans and other resources
  

  Strong local food systems are good for producers, consumers, and communities.

UC ANR’s new after-school curriculum is designed to help 9 to 12 year olds good health skills that will last a lifetime. The six week hands-on program promotes preparing and eating healthy meals as well as encouraging plenty of physical activity.

In addition to the introduction these free, downloadable lessons include:

• Let’s Make It Clean: Wash Up!
• Make It Healthy: Eat Balanced Meals
• Make It Crunchy: Go for Whole Grains!
• Make It Colorful: Choose Fruits and Veggies by Color
• Make it Delicious: Plan and Balance
• Make It Fun: Eat and Share

Teaching healthy life skills to youth is a gift that will last a lifetime. It can be a lot of fun too!