Getting New Food Guide as Easy as Going to Store

In an effort to help the residents of Middlesex-London better plan nutritious meals and eat healthy foods, the Middlesex-London Health Unit is making it easy to get a copy of Canada's new food guide. The Heath Unit has obtained 60,000 copies of Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide, and is making the booklets available at supermarkets across the county and the city.

"The new food guide is a very useful tool when it comes to planning nutritious meals and ensuring that you get the nutrients you need to be healthy," says Heather Thomas, Public Health Dietitian with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. "We felt it was important to find a simple way to get this booklet into as many hands as possible - making it available when you're stocking up on groceries was a natural fit."

Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide is also available for download on Health Canada s website or by calling 1-800-O-Canada.

In the nearly 65 years since it was first introduced, Canada's Food Guide has been revised numerous times. Yet through the many changes it has remained true to its primary goal of helping Canadians to select the best foods which would allow them to live healthier lives. The previous edition of Canada's Food Guide was launched in 1992.

The revision process began in mid-2002 and involved a broad national consultation effort that gathered input from health professionals, academics, industry, consumers, as well as government and non-government organizations.

Launched on February 5th, the new food guide places a stronger emphasis on fruits and vegetables and includes a variety of ethnic foods more representative of the Canadian culture and diet. It outlines the suggested number of portions that should be consumed from each food group based on gender and age. The Health Canada website also provides a wealth of additional information including tips for planning meals, smart snacking, eating out and counting Food Guide servings in a meal.