In February 2007, Health Canada launched Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. Compared to the previous 1992 version, the new Canada’s Food 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;
• Renames “Milk Products” as “Milk and Alternatives” to include fortified soy beverages;
• Provides more 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 new Canadian materials!  Canada’s Food Guide is easy to recognize…. it’s the one with the rainbow design.

To support schools in integrating the new Eating Well with 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 – 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
• Nutrition Month – Cook it up Healthy!  Canadians are encouraged to prepare more home-cooked meals and eat meals together as a family.  Research links families who eat together with better school performance as well as less risk-taking behaviour among youth.  The Dietitians of Canada website features National Nutrition Month (March) resources and tools (EATracker, Recipe Analyzer)  www.dietitians.ca
• Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion – consumer-friendly health information. Soon to include a 1- 800 phone number for “Ask a Dietitian”  www.healthyontario.com
• Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living – excellent  comprehensive guidelines specific to children and youth to help promote a physically active lifestyle www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/guide/index_e.html

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