Food and Beverages - Healthy Eating Basics

The NEW Canada's Food Guide

The Basis for Nutrition Education

In 2007 Health Canada released a revised version of Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide, with a whole different look and purpose.

The new-and-improved Food Guide helps individuals (both young and old) and families know how much food they need, what types of foods are healthier to eat and the importance of physical activity every day.

Canada's Food Guide's Home page
Teaching Points for the Food Guide
Other Differences
My Food Guide Internet Tool
Where to Get More Information
FAQs

Teaching Points for the Food Guide

A new backgrounder for educators - Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - A Resource for Educators and Communicators - provides details and communication tips for educators.

Some of the highlights include:

Vegetables and Fruit

• Are now positioned on the outer arc of the rainbow to reinforce their importance and to encourage Canadians to choose them more often.
• Eat at least one dark green and one orange vegetable each day.

Grain Products

• Make at least half of your grain products whole grain each day.
• Choose grain products that are lower in fat, sugar or salt.

Milk Products

• Food group name has been changed from "Milk Products" to "Milk and Alternatives".
• Drink skim, 1% or 2% milk each day.

Meat and Alternatives

• Portion sizes no longer contain a range (e.g., meat serving is 75 g).
• Eat at least two Food Guide Servings of fish each week.

Additionally, there are now recommendations to limit food and beverages that are high in fat, sugar and salt. This replaces the 'Other Foods' category.

Other Differences

Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide...

• Provides specific guidance on the number of Food Guide Servings (e.g., for age, gender and portion sizes).
• Can be used by all Canadians two years of age and older.
• Is intended for kids who are active less than 90 minutes per day and adults who are active less than 30 minutes per day. At the same time it emphasizes regular physical activity.
• Provides flexibility for active Canadians to increase their number of servings based on their appetite.
• Provides guidance on the types and amounts of oils and fats to use each day.
• Encourages Canadians to read food labels and drink water.
• Incorporates advice for different ages and stages of life.

Where to Get More Information

• Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - A Resource for Educators and Communicators (2.69 MB KB, 60 pages)
• The Health Canada website
• Region of Peel-Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700
• Request a Nutrition Resources for Schools on Canada's Food Guide