In February 2007, Health Canada launched Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. This latest version of the guide:

• Provides specific guidance regarding the number of food guide servings based on age and gender, as well as examples of portion sizes for each food group;
• Positions the “Vegetables and Fruit” group in the outer arc of the rainbow to reflect the larger number of food guide servings recommended;
• Includes fortified soy beverages in the "Milk and Alternatives" group;
• Provides specific recommendations for each food group, such as:
• Eat at least one dark green and one orange vegetable or fruit each day.
• Have vegetables and fruit more often than juice.
• Make at least half of your grain products whole grain each day.
• Drink skim, 1%, or 2% milk each day.
• Have meat alternatives such as beans, lentils, and tofu often.
• Eat at least two food guide servings of fish each week.
• Provides guidance regarding the kinds and amounts of oils and fats to use in foods;
• Encourages consumers to use the Nutrition Facts Table on packaged foods;
• Provides specific advice for feeding children and recommends vitamin/mineral supplements for women of childbearing age and adults over 50 years;
• Emphasizes the importance of daily physical activity.
            
  For more information, check out the excellent Health Canada website www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide which includes the interactive “My Food Guide”. This interactive tool will help your students personalize the information found in the guide.  If you have been using any Food Pyramid resources from the United States, now is the time to make your switch and use these great Canadian materials!  Canada’s Food Guide is easy to recognize…. it’s the one with the rainbow design.

To support schools in integrating Canada’s Food Guide information, here is a brief list of websites for more information on the Food Guide, healthy eating, and active living.

• Canada’s Food Guide – provides excellent nutrition and food information, and guidance for healthy eating. Includes an interactive tool “My Food Guide”.  This interactive tool will help you personalize the information found in the guide. www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide
• Dietitians of Canada – Dietitians of Canada (DC) is the nation-wide voice of dietitians - the most trusted source of information on food and nutrition for Canadians.  The website (www.dietitians.ca) features National Nutrition Month (March) resources and tools (www.dietitians.ca/public/content/eat_well_live_well/english/index.asp).
• EatRight Ontario – EatRight Ontario wants to help you improve your health and quality of life through healthy eating. This service provides easy-to-use nutrition information to help you make healthier food choices. You may browse topics on the website (http://www.eatrightontario.ca/Doorway.aspx), email a dietitian, or if you would like to speak to a registered dietitian you may call 1-877-510-510-2. 
• Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living – provides excellent comprehensive guidelines specific to children and youth to help promote a physically active lifestyle  http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/paguide/

If you need to order Food Guides or the Resource for Educators, please contact the Comprehensive School Health Department at 519-258-2146, ext. 1260.