Canada's New Food Guide Now Available

Canada's new food authority, "Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide" is now available at the County of Lambton Community Health Services Department.

The revised food guide, from Health Canada, contains information on the amount and the types of food recommended for age and gender plus clear guidelines on portion sizes.

The guide, to help healthy Canadians two years of age and older meet nutritional needs, is based on the most current nutritional science to promote healthy growth and development, and to reduce the risk of chronic disease such as obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and osteoporosis.

"The new Guide gives more direction on selecting the best choices within each food group," says Susan Harris, Registered Dietitian with Community Health Services. "We encourage everyone to continue enjoying a "rainbow of colours" of foods."

The Guide addresses key nutrients and recommendations including:
Vitamin D supplements for adults over the age of 50 years.
Multi-vitamin supplement with folic acid for all women who could become pregnant, who are pregnant or who are breastfeeding.
Eat at least two servings of fish (i.e. char, herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines or trout) per week for the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.
Eat at least one dark green; one orange vegetable daily.
Eat vegetables and fruit more often than juice.
Make at least half of our grain choices whole grain each day.
Have meat alternatives such as beans, lentils and tofu often.