OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan 27, 2014) -

Issue

This is the time of year when thoughts turn to making healthier food choices. The type of food you choose to eat is just as important as the amount you eat, whether you're making a meal at home or eating out.

Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide provides recommendations on how many servings of each food group you should eat each day, including Vegetables and Fruit, Grain Products, Milk and Alternatives, and Meat and Alternatives.

To help you make better choices about what foods to eat in specific food groups, Canada's Food Guide recommends that you:

  • Eat at least one dark green and one orange vegetable each day.
  • Have vegetables and fruit more often than juice.
  • Make at least half of your grain products whole grain each day.
  • Eat at least two Food Guide Servings of fish each week.
  • Satisfy your thirst with water.

The Food Guide also encourages people to choose foods lower in fat, sugar and salt (sodium):

  • Choose vegetables and fruit prepared with little or no added fat, sugar or salt.
  • Choose grain products that are lower in fat, sugar or salt.
  • Select lower fat milk alternatives, such as skim, 1% or 2%.
  • Select lean meat and alternatives prepared with little or no added fat or salt.
  • Limit foods and beverages high in calories, fat, sugar or salt.

Eat well and be active today - and every day

Maintaining healthy habits is important too - eating well and being active work together for a healthier you. These healthy habits may help you reduce your risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer and osteoporosis. Steps you can take towards better health and a healthy body weight include:

- Eating the recommended amount and types of food each day.

- Limiting foods and beverages high in calories, fat, sugar or salt (sodium).

- Being active every day.

For more information

- Eating Well With Canada's Food Guide

- Using the Food Guide

- My Food Guide

- Advice for Different Ages and Stages

- The % Daily Value

- Maintaining Healthy Habits

- Eat Well and Be Active Educational Toolkit

- Eat Well Central

Stay connected with Health Canada, and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.

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