March is National Nutrition Month. In Prince Edward Island, the Department of Health is supporting this campaign by encouraging Islanders to make healthier food choices.
This national campaign, led by the Dietitians of Canada, is designed to raise public awareness on the valuable contribution that healthy eating makes to the overall health of Canadians.
“Making healthier food choices and staying active will help to improve overall health for people of all ages,” says Doug Currie, Minister of Health. “Teaching children to make healthier food choices will help to develop good eating habits at an early age. This will help to reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases, such as type two diabetes and heart disease.”
This year’s national campaign, organized by the Dietitians of Canada, recommends ten healthy actions to improve nutrition:
1. Make wise food choices and increase daily physical activity
2. Challenge and support family members to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
3. Keep healthy food choices in mind, at home, at school, and at work
4. Monitor serving sizes
5. Increase your intake of fruit and vegetables
6. Read the labels on the food you eat, to get nutrition information
7. Make meal time a family affair
8. Make healthy eating a lifetime commitment
9. Ask a Registered Dietitian if you have questions about Nutrition
10. Check out www.dietitians.ca
“Registered Dietitians are a trusted source of nutrition information,” said Catherine Freeze, Chronic Disease Prevention Analyst for the Department of Health. “They can offer you a number of resources with practical food solutions, to help you make healthier choices in your day-to day lives.”
To find a Registered Dietitian in your area, log on to www.dietitians.ca/find and use the Find a Nutrition Professional Service, contact your family physician or community health centre, or look in the Yellow Pages under Dietitians.