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Nutritional Resources

At Toco Hills Community Alliance, we’re committed not only to providing food but also ensuring our community has the knowledge to make healthful and nourishing choices. Dive into our wealth of nutrition resources designed to enrich your meals and promote overall wellness.

Basics of
Balanced Eating

Discover the essentials of a balanced diet, from food groups to portion sizes, and ensure every meal is a step toward a healthier you.

Understanding the Food Pyramid: A guide to the different food groups and their significance. Learn how to eat healthy with MyPlate: Click Here.

 

 

Aim for half of the plate to be fruits and vegetables. 

Aim for half the plate to be protein and grains.

 
 

FRUITS

  • Can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or served as 100% fruit juice

  • Men and women should aim to eat ~2 cups of fruit per day

  • 1 cup of fruit includes:

    • 1 apple, banana, grapefruit, orange, peach, or papaya

    • 3 guavas or kiwis

    • 8 strawberries

    • ~20 grapes

    • 1 cup chopped watermelon, pineapple, fruit cocktail

VEGETABLES

  • Men and women should aim to eat ~3 cups of vegetables per day

  • Can be fresh, frozen, canned

  • Include:

    • Dark leafy greens–broccoli, greens, bok choy, kale, spinach, arugula

    • Red/orange veggies–peppers, carrot, sweet potato, pumpkin, tomatoes, squash

    • Starchy veggies–corn, peas, plantains, potatoes

PROTEINS

  • Try to eat lean meats as much as possible

  • Health lean meats include chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, and soy products

  • Try to VARY protein sources regularly

GRAINS

  • Choose WHOLE GRAIN versions

  • Include breads, bagels, pita chips, cornbread, couscous, crackers, oatmeal, pasta, rice, quinoa, tortillas

HEALTH BENEFITS

  • Whole grains reduce risk of heart disease, help support healthy digestion, and weight management

  • Fruits are low in calories, reduce risk for heart disease, and have essential vitamins

  • Vegetables are low in calories, reduce the risk for heart disease, and are an important source of fiber and potassium

 

Stumped about what to cook? Or how to cook certain foods?

Our friends at the Atlanta Community Food Bank have a YouTube channel that has a series of videos to demonstrate recipes and cooking techniques.  

Go to Pantry to Plate to find out more.

For Spanish language resources for recipes and cooking tips, go to Come Bien

 

Applying for
SNAP Benefits

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is one of the strongest way to fight food insecurity in the US. Enrollment in SNAP is shown to not only increase food security and health outcomes, but also to positively impact the economy.
Once a month, a Benefits Coordinator comes to Toco Hills Community Alliance to help people apply. To apply directly, go to https://gateway.ga.gov/access/

Your journey to wellness and nourishment is a lifelong adventure. Let us walk alongside you. Return often for updated resources, and always remember: At Toco Hills Community Alliance, we’re more than just food – we’re a community committed to uplifting every member’s well-being.

Please Note

The policy for inclement weather at Toco Hills Community Alliance is that if Dekalb county schools close for weather reasons, Toco Hills Community Alliance will also be closed for the day.