For the first time in fifteen years, the Canadian Government has made long-awaited changes to Canada’s Food Guide.
The new food guide contains dietary advice tailored to
specific groups, such as children, teens, women, men and seniors, simplifying healthy eating for all. The online version also allows visitors to build their own food guide by walking them through its basic components and
providing a check
list to help them visualize what foods they are consuming
on
a daily basis. Finally, the guide now provides recommendations to the Canadian consumer to limit junk
food, such as pastries, chocolate and candy bars, potato
chips, high calorie soda, sports and energy drinks, doughnuts, muffins, granola bars, cookies, nachos, french fries and alcohol. Brief warnings concerning the harmful effects of trans fats are listed at the bottom of the guide, along with references for daily exercise.
During its four year creation, health officials initially wanted to decrease the portion
sizes and number of servings of fruit and vegetables in the food guide, but this recommendation was dismissed with harsh criticism. The new guide continues to promote the necessity of incorporating a diet with the four food groups - whole grains, fruit and vegetables, meat and alternatives and milk products, and aims to limit the consumption of unhealthy fats.
To download a version of the new food guide, click here (PDF=3.004 MB).
To print a version of the new food guide, click here (PDF=1.755 MB).
Information was sourced from Health Canada's Website
Alyson Saunders is a Wellness Consultant at Buffett & Company Worksite Wellness Ltd.
