Eating healthy

Eating foods from all nutrient groups; Meats, Fish, Seafood and Alternates; Grain Products; Calcium Containing foods and of course, Berries, Roots, Vegetables and Fruits.

Eat portions that satisfy your needs and help you to achieve a healthy weight. Try to make half of your plate veggies and fruits, limit grain or starchy foods, as well as meat, fish and alternates to one quarter of the plate each.

Frequently choose foods that have been through as little processing as possible. A good example is to eat fresh fruit more often than to drink fruit juices. To take it even further, 100% fruit juice is a healthier choice than a fruit ‘drink or beverage’ which is only mildly better than a fruit flavoured pop.

It’s important to eat different foods from each nutrient group. If carrots are the only vegetable you like to eat, try expanding your menu by agreeing to try a new vegetable each week. Although carrots are nutritious, they cannot provide exactly the same nutrients that you will find in broccoli or an avocado. There is no ONE PERFECT food.

Healthy foods give you a wide variety of nutrients that your body needs to grow, heal and function properly. These nutrients include: carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, as well as the very essential vitamins and minerals.

For BC First Nations Peoples, traditional food has been a source of sustenance and healing for communities for centuries, not just from a physical sense but also from an emotional, mental and spiritual perspective. Many communities affirm that without access to traditional foods, many cultural and traditional practices, including medicinal practices, would be lost. In addition to its cultural significance, traditional food represents an importance source of sustenance for BC First Nations Peoples. Many First Nations Peoples rely on traditional food (fishing, hunting and gathering) as a primary food source.