Nutrition Month in Canada

Health ministers in Canada have taken the bull by the horns and announced March to be Nutrition Month to highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity.

Positive messages and practical solutions will be provided to support Canadians in eating well, being active and feeling good about themselves.The theme for this year's Dietitians of Canada campaign, "Go the Healthy Way - Eat Well, Live Well and Feel Great," is apt, given that increasing numbers of Canadians are overweight or obese.

The Government of Canada is leading the campaign by promoting the Pan-Canadian Heathy Living Strategy and committing $300 million in their 2005 Budget to an Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease. Healthy eating habits, regular physical activity and achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Dietitians of Canada have joined forces to promote this initiative and to encourage Canadians to make informed choices to improve their health.

For more information, view Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living. See http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/paguide/index.html