Healthy food

Good for you and good for your budget

Healthy eating

Most of us would like to eat healthily, but it's easier said than done. Limited time, limited budgets, medical conditions and misinformation can all make eating well really difficult. This section is here to clear up confusion and provide good quality information about what healthy eating looks like, and how it can fit into your life.

Healthy Eating 101 covers nutrition basics. Health Conditions links to resources about eating for specific medical concerns, like pregnancy and diabetes. And Health Misinformation contains resources about how to spot misleading health claims, fad diets, and questionable wellness products that could be bad for your wallet and your health.

Basics:

Canada's Food Guide- The gold standard for evidence-based healthy eating in Canada.

Summary of Canada's Food Guide- A one-page summary of the Food Guide for busy people.

Understanding Food Labels in Canada- How to decode the nutrition information on packaged foods.

Healthy eating for food insecurity- Advice about what healthy eating looks like when you don't have reliable access to food.

More detailed nutrition information:

Unlock Food- A massive website created by Dieticians of Canada to share nutrition information and healthy eating advice that is accurate and easy to read.

The Nutrition Source- If you have questions about carbohydrates or the different kinds of fats, the Harvard School of Public Health has answers in this free resource.

Food Safety:

Health Canada's Food Safety Resource- Covers tips for handling, storing, cooking, barbecuing and reheating food. This resource also includes facts on pesticides and food safety, labels and packaging, and allergies.

Food safety for vulnerable populations- Extra food safety information for vulnerable groups like seniors, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems.

Recalls and advisories Canada- Sign up for notifications of food and health product recalls from the Government of Canada.

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"Healthy eating" looks different for people with different medical conditions. You should always speak to a doctor about the best way to eat for your health, but the resources below can provide additional information and support.

Diabetes:

Diabetes Canada- A huge online hub of diabetes resources. Includes articles about counting carbs, managing blood sugar, and 7-day meal plans. There is also a Diabetes Canada Youtube channel with video resources.

Saskatchewan Health Authority- A regional diabetes education resource. Their Type 2 Diabetes Guide also has contact information for Saskatchewan diabetes educators and health care providers.

Nutrition tips for those with Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease- Did you know that diabetes can damage your kidneys? This pamphlet has information about tests you can get to monitor kidney funtion if you've been dianosed with diabetes, and dietary changes that will help your kidneys too.

211 Saskatchewan- A comprehensive database of community, social, non-clinical health, and government services in Saskatchewan. Searching "diabetes" in your area will connect you to local diabetes supports.

Allergies and food sensitivities:

Food Allergy Canada- Everything you need know about food allergies. Includes food allergy 101, advice for preventing food allergies in children, and facts about common food allergy myths.

Celiac Canada- Extensive information about living with gluten disorders and sensitivities, including a Symptom Checklist that you can use to see if you should consider getting tested for celiac disease.

Lactose Intolerance- John Hopkins' explanation about what lactose intolerance is, how to get tested for it, and how to live with it.

Digestive conditions:

Canadian Digestive Health Foundation- If you're experiencing digestive issues after eating, their digestive conditions page is a great place to learn about symptoms, treatments, and when you should go see a doctor. Conditions like Crohn's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and peptic ulcers can be very serious, and it's important to seek out help rather than be embarrassed about them.

Pregnancy:

Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy- The government of Canada's resource about prenatal nutrition.

Moms and Kids Saskatchewan- Saskatchewan's database of information for healthy pregnancies and kids, including guidance about healthy eating and supplements, as well as links to nutrition support programs.

My Saskatchewan Pregnancy App- A smartphone app to help with a healthy pregnancy. Has a variety of trackers, educational resources, and links to local prenatal support and healthcare providers.

Eating Disorders:

National Eating Disorder Information Center- A treasure trove of resources about eating disorders. Includes information about types of eating disorders and treatment, a Canadian treatment provider directory, and coping strategies. There is also a free helpline, chat function, and email address  that you can use to anonymously contact the Center for advice for yourself or somene else.

F.E.A.S.T- Information and support resources for families and caregivers of people struggling with eating disorders.

There is plenty of good quality, free, and helpful information out there about healthy eating- a lot of it is linked to on this site! Unfortunately health and wellness are a big business, and many people make a living from peddling innaccurate or even harmful dietary advice and products. Protect yourself by learning about how to identify misinformation, and get the real facts about some common health trends.

General tips for identifying health misinformation:

Evaluating health information on the internet- How to figure out if a website is trustworthy.

Finding reliable healthy eating information on the internet- Red flags to watch out for when you're reading a site, as well as links to good sources for healthy eating advice.

Fad diets:

Fad diets, detoxes and cleanses- What is are fad diets, why are they bad for you, and how do you spot one?

The Nutrition Source's Diet Reviews- The Harvard School of Pulblic Health has put together reviews of popular diet trends like paleo, keto, and intermittent fasting. Have a look through to learn about how these diets work, what their potential pitfalls are, and what research says about their effectiveness.

Health products:

Commonly asked questions about vitamin and mineral supplements- The Dieticians of Canada answer questions about what supplements can and cannot do, and who should consider taking them.

Commonly used natural health products- A similar article, tackling some popular natural health products.

Supplements: a scorecard- A review of popular dietary supplements and their efficacy.

Thank you!

Food is Too Expensive! was funded by the City of Saskatoon through our Healthy Yards partnership, the Cyril Capling Trust Fund of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and the Department of Plant Sciences. Focus group research to inform this work was collected by CHEP. Thank you all for helping us make healthy food more accessible!