Food and Nutrition

Food is essential to life and key for achieving and maintaining health and for activities we do every day, such as being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.  A wide variety of healthy foods provides nutrients we need to feel good, keep healthy and the energy to learn, work and play.  To keep healthy:

  • Eat foods that provide energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.
  • Drink water right from the tap
  • Eat more traditional and locally grown foods.
  • Eat amounts of foods recommended for your age, sex and activity levels.
  • Eat fewer processed foods (less added sugar, fat and salt) – this is also better for the environment. 

A steady diet of unhealthy foods can cause serious long-term health problems. For example: 

  • Heart disease, stroke and other diseases of the circulatory system are linked to high fat, high salt diets.
  • Sugary foods, such as sweetened drinks and candies, are directly linked to obesity and dental disease, such as cavities, gum disease and missing teeth.
  • Too much weight around the waist is often the result of taking in more calories than we need.  Being obese is linked to Type 2 diabetes.
  • Risk for colorectal cancer can be reduced by keeping at a healthy weight, eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains and eating less fatty meats.

For practical tips and information on eating for good health and to maintain a healthy weight, visit the following:

For additional resources, please visit the Government of Canada’s website for information on:

Updated: Jul 07, 2026