Eating a healthy diet is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy means choosing a variety of nutritious foods that will give your body the nutrients it needs to maintain and promote good health. Follow the recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide to help you make healthy food choices.
Canada's Food Guide
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, whole grain foods and protein foods. Choose protein foods that come from plants more often.
- Choose foods with healthy fats instead of saturated fat.
- Limit highly processed foods. If you choose these foods, eat them less often and in small amounts.
- Prepare meals and snacks using ingredients that have little to no added sodium, sugars or saturated fat.
- Choose healthier menu options when eating out.
- Make water your drink of choice.
- Replace sugary drinks with water.
- Use food labels.
- Be aware that food marketing can influence your choices.
(Health Canada, 2019)
- Use Canada’s food guide eat well plate to help plan healthy snacks and meals.
- Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit, one quarter of your plate with whole grain foods, and the other quarter with protein foods.
(Health Canada, 2019)
| Healthy eating is more than the foods you eat. It is also about where, when, why and how you eat. |
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Be mindful of your eating habits
Cook more often
Enjoy your food
Eat meals with others (Health Canada, 2019) |
| Additional information and resources |
Learn more about Canada's Food Guide.
Health Department resources
Tips for cooking on a budget
Before you shop:
Use weekly grocery flyers to look for the best sales.
- Create your grocery list at home using a weekly menu planner to plan your meals.
- Check out what you already have in your pantry and fridge before adding items to your grocery list.
- Use the Budget-Wise Pantry list to help you.
- Know what fruit and vegetables are in-season.
- Grocery stores have different food prices. Shop at discount stores.
- Keep a calculator with you to help stay on budget.
- Plan your grocery trip once a week to save time gas money or public transit fare.
Durham Region Community Food Advisors
Community Food Advisors (CFAs) are volunteers who have training in communication, healthy eating and food safety including selection, preparation/handling and storage of food. Community Food Advisors complement the work of public health professionals, dietitians and teachers in the community.
What we do
Community Food Advisors provide education on safe food handling and healthy eating using Canada's Food Guide in the community.
Contact Us