Many different groups play an important role in healthy eating and healthy lifestyle education, planning and promotion. Whether you are a dietitian, school administrator, teacher, community representative or member of another group, these resources can assist you with your plan or program.

The Meaning of Healthy Eating in British Columbia is intended to provide a consistent understanding of healthy eating for the purpose of developing policy and strategies for healthy eating in British Columbia. Learn more about The Meaning of Healthy Eating in British Columbia.

The Meaning of Healthy Weights in British Columbia is intended to provide a consistent understanding of healthy weights for the purpose of developing policy and strategies for promoting healthy weights in British Columbia. Learn more about The Meaning of Healthy Weights in British Columbia (PDF 46KB).   

A person is considered food secure if they can access with dignity, healthy food that is affordable, safe, culturally appropriate, and meets their nutritional needs and preferences. The British Columbia Center for Disease Control (BCCDC) Population and Public Health team coordinates food security work across the province: 

• BCCDC Food Security

• BC Food Security Gateway

The Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in B.C. Schools (the Guidelines) define the nutrition standard that schools are required to use to determine what food and beverages can be sold to students. Learn more about the Guidelines. 

The Healthier Choices in Vending Machines in B.C. Public Buildings Policy aims to increase the range of healthier food and beverage choices available in vending machines. Learn more about the policy.   

The Informed Dining in Health Care program requires retail food service establishments located in B.C. health care facilities to provide customers with nutrition information.  Learn more about the program.  

The B.C. Ministry of Health presents an orientation to Canada’s food guide, which Health Canada released in January 2019. 
This video provides an overview of the food guide for health professionals in B.C., including information from Health Canada about: 
•    Revision process for the food guide 
•    Key messaging and considerations 
•    A suite of resources available online  
 

Canada’s Food Guide FAQ’s are intended to facilitate shared understanding, consistent messaging, and to support implementation of the food guide by professionals in B.C.

See the Ministry of Health’s Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Health Professionals in BC. 
 

The Pediatric Nutrition Guidelines are evidence-informed nutrition and feeding guidelines for healthy full-term infants and children from six months up to six years of age. The Guidelines are meant to assist health professionals in B.C. in providing high-quality care related to feeding and identifying potential nutrition risk. The Guidelines also give health professionals more information on eating habits, growth, infant feeding, food allergy prevention, high-iron foods and food safety. To learn more see the Pediatric Nutrition Guidelines (PDF, 305KB). 

The Vitamin D Recommendations for Perinatal Women and Healthy Term Infants (Birth – 1 year) paper discusses the current scientific evidence for vitamin D’s role in health. The paper supports health professionals in providing informed recommendations to ensure adequate vitamin D intakes for perinatal women and healthy, term infants. It also addresses information on sources of vitamin D in British Columbia. 

The Practice Support Tool is a quick reference for health professionals. The tool helps health professionals provide informed recommendations to their clients/patients. 
•    Vitamin D Recommendations for Perinatal Women and Healthy Term Infants (Birth – 1 year) 
•    Vitamin D Recommendations Practice Support Tool for Health Professionals in British Columbia 

The Provincial Nutrition Resource Inventory is a collection of provincial healthy eating and nutrition related resources. Search or browse for evidence-informed healthy eating and nutrition resources. 

Appetite to Play 

Appetite to Play is an interactive workshop for early childhood providers to enhance knowledge, skills and confidence in creating childcare settings that support healthy eating, physical activity, food and physical literacy to promote healthy child development. The workshop is three hours in length and counts toward professional development credits for early childhood educators. To learn more see Appetite to Play. 
 

Last updated: June 2021