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Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers a free nutrition education class series called Buy. Eat. Live Healthy. 

These classes show adult participants how to choose nutritious foods for themselves and their families, save an average of $50 a month on their food bill, and handle food safely. Trained educators provide practical, hands-on experience and ideas about how to implement suggestions for healthy eating. All information shared is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020 and MyPlate.

The Buy. Eat. Live Healthy classes are FREE to participants and can be taught to groups or individuals. Income guidelines apply.

Classes include:

• Get Moving- Participants enjoy being active.
• Plan, Shop, $ave- Participants plan and shop for meals and snacks that are healthy and within their budget.
• Fruits and Veggies, Half your Plate- Participants increase the amount of vegetables and fruits they eat every day. Participants have more than one kind of vegetable and one kind of fruit every day.
• Make Half Your Grains Whole - Participants choose at least half of their grains to be whole grains.
• Build Strong Bones- Participants get enough calcium from low-fat or non-fat dairy foods or other foods high in calcium.
• Go Lean with Protein- Participants have lean protein foods and keep all food safe to eat.
• Make a Change and Celebrate- Participants limit foods high in fat, sugar and salt and celebrate new knowledge and skills to make healthy food and activity choices.

Each lesson includes information on nutrition and physical activity and includes cooking or tasting a recipe. In addition, participants are given tools to help them make behavior changes including cutting mats, measuring cups and spoons, and cookbooks. Participants who complete eight classes receive a certificate signed by ISU Extension and Outreach staff certifying they have attended the program.

For more information on how to get your family involved in Buy. Eat. Live. Healthy contact Mae McCarty, Program Supervisor, at 515-957-5773 or mccartym@iastate.edu.

For more Buy. Eat. Live Healthy information, visit the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Nutrition Education webpage.