Young Adults

Going away to college or moving out on your own?

This exciting life change brings responsibilities and freedom to make your own choices. It’s also a key time to build healthy habits. Let MyPlate help you along the way with these tips, tools, and resources.

Healthy Eating Tips

Cooking Basics

MyPlate on Alexa

Resources

Tip Sheet

Healthy Eating Tips

Pack healthy snacks, such as plain popcorn, dried fruit, whole grain crackers or nuts into small containers or baggies. They make great 'grab-&-go' options on busy days.

Healthy Eating Tips

Fill reusable water bottles and store them in the fridge. When you open the fridge and see cold water, you’ll be more likely to grab it.

Healthy Eating Tips

Coordinate a ‘dinner club’ with your roommates or friends. Pick a couple nights a week where you cook healthy meals for each other. It’s a great way to try new foods and learn new skills.

Healthy Eating Tips

Living on your own? Freeze leftovers into single servings for an easy heat-and-eat meal.

Healthy Eating Tips

Preparing and then freezing meals can be great opportunities to have convenient, portion-controlled, and even affordable meal options.

Healthy Eating Tips

Get your MyPlate Plan to see what and how much to eat within your calorie allowance (including food groups).

young woman on laptop computer, black young couple chopping vegetables

Cooking 101

Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program, Cooking Basics and Tips: Learn common cooking terms and find measurement conversions. This will be helpful when cooking recipes.
NC State University, Cooking Local Foods: View videos and discover resources to help you cook healthy meals at home.
FoodSafety.gov’s Food Safety Charts: Find information on cooking food to the right temperature and how to store it properly.

MyPlate Tips on Alexa

Get MyPlate nutrition information straight to your home on your Amazon Alexa smart speaker, or on your phone or tablet via the free Amazon Alexa app. For more information, visit our MyPlate Alexa page.

Below are some of the many tips available for young adults. And just like the MyPlate.gov website and MyPlate tools, all of the information provided by MyPlate on Alexa is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

Sodium/ Salt

Spice it up! Flavor your foods with fresh or dried herbs and spices instead of salt. Pick spice blends that do not list salt or sodium on the ingredient list.

Grains

Try to make at least half your grains whole grains. Look for sandwich breads made with whole grains. Or try a sandwich-like bread such as pita bread, tortillas, naan, and rolls. All of these are also available as whole grains.

Protein

Get creative with beans, peas, and lentils. Make chili or stews with kidney or pinto beans, a bowl of split pea soup for lunch or dinner, or lentils as a side dish. Check online for recipe ideas.

Beverages

Perk up plain water or seltzer water with lemon, lime, or orange slices. Maybe even add some fresh mint leaves or a few fresh or frozen berries.

Fats

In place of foods higher in saturated fat, look for foods like nuts, seeds, and fatty fish like tuna, salmon, trout, and mackerel. These foods are high in unsaturated fats and are healthier choices.

Calcium

The nutrients in dairy are important for all ages. Include foods like low-fat or fat-free dairy milk or yogurt. Need an alternative? Try lactose-free dairy milk or yogurt that's low-fat or fat-free. You can also try fortified soy versions.

Dietary Fiber

Take fruit on the go. Fruits like oranges, bananas, and apples are great portable snacks. You can also bring along a can of mandarin oranges or pineapple chunks packed in water.