Canada's Food Guide explained
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If you grew up in Canada, you likely learned about Canada’s Food Guide in school – the colourful rainbow of healthy foods. But how are these guides developed and what is the purpose of them? Learn more about Canada’s Food Guide and how we are advocating for healthy eating habits.
What is Canada’s Food Guide?
Canada’s Food Guide is an educational resource provided by Health Canada to guide Canadians towards healthy eating habits. It emphasizes the consumption of a variety of nutritious foods, including:
- Vegetables and fruit, especially dark green vegetables (like broccoli and bok choy) and orange vegetables (like carrots and sweet potato).
- High protein foods which include encouraging plant-based sources of protein such as tofu, nuts, seeds and legumes.
- Limiting highly processed foods and selecting whole grain foods.
- Making water your drink of choice instead of sugary drinks.
- It also encourages mindful eating, cooking often, and enjoying meals with friends and family.
Image from the Government of Canada’s food guide.
History of Canada’s Food Guide
The very first edition of Canada's Food Guide was introduced in 1942 and was known as the “Official Food Rules”. Since 1942, the food guide has evolved in several iterations to become the version we see today, which was developed in 2019.
Despite the ongoing updates, the underlying mission of the guides has always remained the same. The food guide is meant to be used as an educational tool to help people choose a healthy diet and to promote nutritional well-being.
The dark history of Canada’s Food Guide
Although today’s food guide is a widely respected tool for promoting healthy eating, its history includes a dark chapter. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Canadian Government conducted nutritional experiments on Indigenous children in residential schools without informed consent. These experiments have had long-term negative health impacts on survivors and their descendants, contributing to health conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity. Canada’s first food guide was created using data from these abhorrent experiments.
Today’s food guide is based on comprehensive science and aims to address the nutritional needs of all Canadians while promoting equity and inclusivity. The guide has evolved to reflect current understandings of nutrition science, public health, and cultural diversity, distancing itself from its racist, colonial origins. However, acknowledging this dark history is crucial for reconciliation and ensuring ethical practices in public health policy moving forward.
How is Canada’s Food Guide Developed?
Canada’s Food Guide is developed by Health Canada – the federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health. The guides are developed based on the latest scientific evidence on food and health, including reports from the World Health Organization.
Considering cultures and food traditions
Canada is a multicultural country, and this diversity is reflected in our food choices and traditions. Recognizing this, the food guide has been translated into 17 different languages, including nine Indigenous languages, ensuring the recommendations are accessible to all.
While the guide promotes certain types and categories of foods known for their nutritional value, it’s important to remember that food is deeply intertwined with culture and identity. Traditional foods and practices play a crucial role in maintaining our cultural heritage and community bonds. Therefore, small changes can always be made if the recommended items are not possible due to financial constraints, cultural reasons or personal food preferences. For instance, if a recommended food item is not a staple in your culture, consider substituting it with a culturally relevant alternative with similar nutritional benefits.
It’s also important to recognize that not all communities have equal access to the same food options, and some healthy options may come with a restrictive price tag. For example, in rural and Northern communities, the price of vegetables and fresh produce is often beyond reach. In such cases, preserved or locally foraged foods can be nutritious alternatives.
Advocating for healthy eating
Canada’s Food Guide should be used as an advocacy tool. It serves as a standard that can drive efforts to ensure all Canadians have for equal access to healthy foods and to promote healthy whole food diets that includes more plant-based foods.
Together with Member of Parliament Laurel Collins, we have launched a petition to the Government of Canada asking them to:
- Educate Canadians on the benefits of eating less meat, dairy, eggs and more plant-based foods in keeping with Canada’s Food Guide.
- Require federal institutions and federally funded food programs (for example, the National School Food Program) to procure more plant-based foods.
- Limit growth of industrial animal agriculture (factory farming) and support small-scale farmers using resilient, humane, and sustainable farming practices.
Join us in asking the Government of Canada to support healthier, more sustainable eating habits for all Canadians.
*Note: The link above will take you to a Parliament of Canada website and requires you to validate your identity through an emailed link. While this is one extra step, your support is very important to the success of this petition.