The health unit works to support access to safe, nutritious, affordable food and encourages healthy eating in our communities.

We:

• Assess and report on the nutritional health of our communities.
• Work with others in the community to create policies, supportive environments and programs to support healthy eating.
• Engage with our communities to increase the intake of vegetables and fruits and other plant-based foods and decrease the intake of processed foods.
• Lead and support members of the public and community partners to address household food insecurity and sustainable food systems.

What Matters to Your Health

For You

Eating a variety of foods can make you feel good overall, give you energy, improve your mood, and maintain your health. Eating well can also lower your risk of certain chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes, and some cancers. 

For Parents

Healthy eating is important for children’s growth and overall health. Parents can be good role models for children by providing and enjoying a variety of colourful vegetables and fruits, as well as whole grains and protein rich foods, at meals and snack time. Parents can also help children thrive by making a habit of sitting down, at regular times each day, to eat home-cooked food and enjoy time together as a family.

Resources and support are available to help you in feeding your infant, toddler, or school age child, here.

For Schools

Food and nutrition is one of the curriculum-linked strategies that contributes to creating a healthier school environment. Healthy school environments that are consistent with the nutrition information being taught in the classroom, shapes and informs lifelong healthy habits in students. Find out more here. 

For Childcare Providers

Child Care Providers play a key role in shaping children’s eating habits, growth, development, and overall well-being. By offering nutritious meals and snacks, modeling healthy eating behaviors, and fostering a positive attitude toward food, providers help children build lifelong healthy habits. More information and resources for Child Care Providers can be found here. 

For Health Professionals

Health Professionals have an important role in supporting nutritious eating. More information for health professionals can be found within our Resources for Health Professional’s.  

Household Food Insecurity

Food insecurity can have a serious impact on physical, mental, and social health starting in childhood. Income solutions like a basic income for everyone, living wage, social assistance rates geared to the real cost of living, and policies that encourage good jobs with regular hours and benefits are needed. This would see everyone able to afford basic needs and put food on the table with dignity. Learn more on our webpage.

Sustainable Food Systems

Access to a steady and affordable supply of healthy food improves individual and community health. Communities must take action to preserve and protect the land, water, and other resources required to produce food and sustain and grow the local food system.

For more information:

Call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.