January 2019.
The new food guide was released in January 2019.
We will continue to:
Canada’s Official Food Rules (1942) became Canada’s Food Rules (1944, 1949), then Canada’s Food Guide (1961, 1977, 1982). Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating (1992) evolved to Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide (2007). The title changes signify an evolution in the positioning and philosophy of the food guide.
Compared with the 2007 version, the significant changes include increased plant-based food intake, limiting highly processed food and sugar-sweetened beverage intakes and encouraging food skill practice, such as home cooking and eating together.
In an era of conflicting nutrition messages, the revision of Canada’s Food Guide will give Canadians confidence in guidance that is based on the best available evidence and consistent with other respected health authorities.
Other Food Guide Changes
Gone are the days of dairy, meat, and bread being specific dietary requirements. The emphasis has moved towards plant-based alternatives being embraced as part of the protein and whole grain portion of our plates – which should now be 50% whole fruit and vegetables.
Changes to the Canadian Nutrition Facts Table. On December 14th, the Canadian FDA announced changes to be made to their nutrition facts table.
MyPlate
You may be familiar with the “Food Pyramid” or “MyPyramid,” but the most recent diagram is called “MyPlate.” The dietary recommendations are updated every 5 years to keep up with current research and health data.
A reduction in main food groups
The number of food groups in Canada’s Food Guide has slowly been reduced since its inception. The most recent reduction was in 1977, where there were four main food groups: Milk and milk products. Meat and alternatives.
Think outside the box: The guide has a stronger focus on choosing more whole foods and fewer ultra-processed foods. Many studies support the heart health benefits of eating vegetables, fruit, whole grains and protein, while reducing your intake of ultra-processed foods loaded with sodium, sugar and saturated fat.
Notable changes from previous versions: Greater emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and plant-based proteins. Reduced emphasis on meats and dairy products favouring low-fat dairy and non-dairy alternatives where possible. A shift towards mindful eating, limiting screen time during meals, and eating and cooking with others.
Less prescriptive approach. We heard that many Canadians found the previous food guide challenging to use in their daily lives. For this reason, the new food guide has moved away from recommendations based on the number and size of servings.
Busy Canadians want simple guidance that they can trust to help them make healthy food choices for themselves and their families. In launching the new Canada’s Food Guide today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, emphasized that healthy eating is about more than the foods Canadians eat.
Through the robust, evidence-based and thoughtful dietary guidelines, Health Canada has reached beyond the scope of what individuals should eat to avoid disease or deficiency and addressed critical policy issues, Nathalie Savoie writes.
The lack of milk and other dairy products was swiftly called out by the Dairy Farmers of Canada in a statement on Tuesday. The group said it is “concerned” the food guide doesn’t reflect the “most recent and mounting scientific evidence” on the benefits of dairy.
Reflects Updated Information about Nutrients
The list of nutrients that are required or permitted to be declared is being updated. Vitamin D and potassium are required on the label. Calcium and iron will continue to be required. Vitamins A and C are no longer required but can be included on a voluntary basis.
Meat and alternatives is now simply “protein”, showing that protein comes in many shapes and sizes and not just through animal products. Milk and alternatives was removed, which is now encompassed within protein, as there are many Canadians who can’t tolerate dairy.
The survey of nearly 1,200 registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) placed fermented foods, blueberries and seeds (including chia and hemp) at the top of the list of trending superfoods for 2022, with higher-fat foods popular with keto-diet followers (avocado, nuts) and perennially praised leafy greens also making the
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued regulations in 2016 to update the Nutrition Facts label. This was the first major change to the label since it was introduced in 1994. Most items had the updated label by January 1, 2021.
The RDAs continued to be updated (in 1974, 1980 and 1989) but the values specified for nutrition labeling remained unchanged. In 1993 the FDA published new regulations mandating the inclusion of a nutrition facts label on most packaged foods.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines) provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease.
2011
The 1992 pyramid introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was called the “Food Guide Pyramid” or “Eating Right Pyramid”. It was updated in 2005 to “MyPyramid”, and then it was replaced by “MyPlate” in 2011.
