Food and Beverages - Healthy Eating Basics

The NEW Canada's Food Guide - FAQs

1. Has Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide been translated or adapted to meet the needs of multicultural groups?
   
   
2. Can vegetarians use Canada’s Food Guide?
   
   
3. Why did Health Canada not include a recommendation to choose organic foods as part of the Food Guide? 
   
   
4. Why are serving sizes the same regardless of whether you are a child or adult?  Isn’t this too much food for younger children?

If you have a question not listed here contact the Region of Peel – Public Health and speak to a registered dietitian or public health nurse:

• 905-799-7700 (Caledon residents call free of charge 905-584-2216)
• Email us

1. Has Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide been translated or adapted to meet the needs of multicultural groups?

Canada's Food Guide can meet the needs of multicultural groups in several ways:

• The food pictures show foods eaten by all Canadians, including multicultural groups.
• The interactive Internet "My Food Guide" tool allows individuals to choose specific cultural foods from each food group.
• Health Canada and other community agencies plan to translate and adapt the Food Guide for specific cultures and languages.

2. Can Vegetarians use Canada's Food Guide?
Yes,Canada's Food Guide is suitable for vegetarians. To ensure enough nutrients, vegetarians can choose either milk or fortified soy beverages as part of the Milk and Alternatives food group and a variety of meat alternatives such as beans, lentils, eggs, tofu, soy-based meat substitutes, nuts, nut butters and seeds from the Meat and Alternatives food group.

3. Why did Health Canada not include a recommendation to choose organic foods as part of the Food Guide?
We live in a complex society with many different attitudes towards eating and a great deal of research. Health Canada's recommendations are based on:

• Current research - that which has been proven to be valid and reliable
• What is fundamental to achieving health - i.e., what is absolutely necessary for health; for example:
  • Eat one dark green and orange vegetable each day (Yes, fundamental because without it there is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease)
  • Vitamin D supplementation for adults 50+ (Yes, fundamental because without Vitamin D there is an increased risk of osteoporosis)
  • Choosing organic foods (No, not fundamental because no specific risk element has been proven if not chosen. Many Canadians may still choose to make organic choices for themselves and their families, but it is not required for all Canadians to achieve health)

4. Why are serving sizes the same regardless of whether you are a child or adult? Isn't this too much food for younger children?
The Food Guide serving sizes are the same for all age groups. Health Canada pinpoints that the serving sizes are not meant to be meal/snack portion sizes for everyone; rather, they're a reference point for food throughout the day.

The Background Resource for Educators and Communicators provides examples showing how a small child can divide food guide servings across the day (e.g., through half servings etc) or how someone can have more than a serving (e.g., a plate of pasta greater than ½ cup).