Food nourishes the body and gives us energy to get through each day. Healthy eating is fundamental to good health and is a key element in healthy human development, from the prenatal and early childhood years to later life stages. Healthy eating is equally important in reducing the risk of many chronic diseases. People with healthy eating patterns live longer and are at lower risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. For people with chronic diseases, healthy eating can help manage these conditions and prevent complications.
Canada’s Food Guide encourages Canadians to:
Make it a habit to eat a variety of healthy foods each day. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, whole grain and protein foods. Choose protein foods that come from plants more often and make water your drink of choice.
Use food labels. Limit foods high in sugar, sodium or saturated fat.
Be aware that food marketing can influence your choices.
Be mindful of our eating habits. Healthy eating is more than the foods we eat. It is also about where, when, why and how we eat. Cook more often. Enjoy our food. Eat meals with others.
Limit highly processed foods. If we choose these foods, eat them less often and in small amounts.
Focus on the quality versus the quantity of the food we eat and focus on the proportions of the foods rather than a set number of food items.
