The theme for World Food Day 2019 is Healthy Diets for a #ZeroHunger World. As undernourishment, food insecurity, and diet-related chronic disease rates soar worldwide, World Food Day organizers are calling to make healthy and sustainable diets available to and affordable for everyone. 

This year’s theme provides us with a platform to raise awareness about food banks’ nutritional programming and celebrate the positive impact on individuals’ ability to access the healthy food they need to thrive. 

If you are thinking of making a food bank donation this holiday season, please consider these nutritious items in this handy list:

Vegetables & Fruit

• Sodium-reduced tomato sauce
• No-salt-added canned vegetables
• Fruit canned in water
• Fruit cups with no added sugar
• Low sodium vegetable soups and chilies

Whole Grains

• Oats and unsweetened “regular” or “natural” oatmeal
• Pot barley
• Quinoa
• Buckwheat
• Whole grain flour
• Whole grain or high fibre bran cereals
• Whole grain pasta
• Brown rice

Protein

• Canned tuna, salmon or sardines
• Canned chicken
• Canned no-salt-added chickpeas, lentils and beans
• Dry peas, beans and lentils
• Peanut butter or other nut butters
• Unsalted nuts, seeds or soy nuts
• Skim milk powder
• Evaporated milk
• Soy beverages in tetra pack containers

Take this list with you on your next grocery store visit!