Islanders can learn more about what's in the food they eat by attending a community information session March 8 to 13 during Healthy Eating Week.
The five sessions will focus on how to read and understand new food labels that will be required on most packaged food in Canada by 2005. The sessions are being coordinated by the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance and presented by community dietitians in Borden, Cornwall, Montague, Souris and Abram's Village.
Dr. Jennifer Taylor, Healthy Eating Alliance Chair, advised that knowing how to read food labels is key to making healthy food choices. "While most Islanders are aware of the foods they should eat, many don't know how to choose healthy packaged foods," said Dr. Taylor. "Smart food choices can be made at the grocery store, and we believe that one of the best ways to help Islanders eat healthy is to help them learn how to read new labels on packaged food."
The first information session will be held Monday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at Amherst Cove Consolidated School in Borden, and delivered by Bernadette Campbell, RD. Others will be held: Tuesday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m. at KCMH in Montague, presented by Nancy Reddin, RD; Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at Westwood School in Cornwall, presented by Jillyan Gallant, dietetic intern; Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. at Souris Consolidated School, presented by Alan Davidson, RD; and Saturday, March 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Library in Abram's Village, presented by Megan Mullally, RD.
This is the second annual Healthy Eating Week in PEI. The week is organized by the Prince Edward Island Healthy Eating Alliance, a group of individuals and organizations working collaboratively to improve the eating habits of PEI children and youth.
For information on the Healthy Eating Alliance, call 902 368 6713. For information on food labelling, visit www.healthyeatingisinstore.ca.