March is Nutrition Month: Unlock the Potential of Food!

February 27, 2023 - Defence Stories

The theme for Nutrition Month 2023 is to Unlock the Potential of Food and practice healthy eating habits to take care of our families and ourselves. Good nutrition and healthy eating help us live longer and live healthier. They help manage weight, improve digestion, promote mental health and prevent chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancers. 

Since 1986, Dietitians of Canada has led Nutrition Month by spotlighting the importance of healthy eating and the role of dietitians. Dietitians are rigorously trained and regulated health care professionals and remain the most credible source of food and nutrition information. Dietitians (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website) can help cut through the clutter of fads and gimmicks. They provide ethical, evidence-based nutrition advice to help you eat in a way that works with your culture and traditions, preferences, nutritional and personal needs such as taste, food skills, budget, and health conditions.

As of 1 July 2023, the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) will offer the new benefit of reimbursing up to $300/calendar year for consultation with a dietitian (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website). This is good news for Public Service employees and for dependents of CAF members enrolled in the PSHCP.

Make the most of Nutrition Month by following the recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide, such as planning meals, cooking more often and involving your kids in the kitchen. Include physical activity along with your nutritious eating habits, helping you achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You can also subscribe to Canada’s Food Guide updates for health information and recipes to keep unlocking the potential of food throughout the year.

To get you started, UnlockFood (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website) has easy to read, science-based information on healthy eating and recipes. There is also Cookspiration (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website): an interactive site with more meal planning and recipe ideas.

Keep an eye out for your local Health Promotion Delivery Team’s activities during Nutrition Month.

• Find a Dietitian 
• Dietitians Promote Health Through Food and Nutrition
• Home cooking get its mojo back (accessible only on the National Defence network)
• Meal Planning (accessible only on the National Defence network)