Smoking cessation is used to illustrate the application of health literacy principles to meet patients’ needs. There are three areas to focus on: developing a health literate patient; strive towards the ability to present information in a way that is easy to understand and use that information; and help to create a health literate delivery system that provides ready access to and delivery of health information and health services in a supportive environment. The Health Choices – flip chart tool kit for healthcare professionals launched on 1 September 2012 illustrates the elements of a health literate tool for communicating smoking cessation.