Healthy Active Living Programs
Community, school and workplace initiatives
The food manufacturing industry promotes physical activity and healthy eating through community-based, school-based and workplace programs. Companies sponsor community sports teams and charitable organizations that promote child and family activities. Some examples include breakfast programs and after-school sports programs that teach children about the importance of nutrition and physical activity.
Some of the practices that companies have implemented in their workplaces include:
- offering incentives for enrolment in physical activity and other health-related programs e.g. smoking cessation and stress management; and
- implementing programs encouraging employees to be active in the workplace, such as Health Canada's Stairway to Health.
For more details, visit:
Member company community, school and workplace initiatives
FCPC's Healthy Active Living Program
In addition to activities undertaken by individual companies, the industry is also involved in a collective program through its industry association. The FCPC's Healthy Active Living Program is a proactive initiative that brings together industry to work collectively to raise awareness about the importance of balanced eating, physical activity and moderation. For more details about the first phase of this program, visit:
FCPC's Healthy Active Living Program.
Educating consumers about healthy lifestyles
The food manufacturing industry recognizes the importance of educating consumers about food and nutrition so they can make informed decisions about the foods they choose to buy and eat. Food manufacturers provide a wealth of nutrition and health related information through their 1-800 call centres and their websites including "ask an expert" sections and healthy recipes.
For more details, visit:
Directory of member company websites with online education tools
In addition, the industry supports Health Canada's education initiatives and participates in programs coordinated by health professional organizations. For example, the industry supports and promotes Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Canada's Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living, and is a partner in the "Healthy Eating is in Store for You" Program.
Healthy Eating is in Store for You™ Program
The food manufacturing industry has joined the Dietitians of Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association in creating a consumer education program on nutrition labels. Entitled Healthy Eating is in Store for You, the program teaches Canadians how to interpret and apply nutrition information on packaged foods. For more information, visit www.healthyeatingisinstore.ca. Ultimately, this educational program will help consumers make food choices that can lead to overall health and healthy weights and reduce the risk of developing chronic illness.
Promoting "All Foods Can Fit"—balance, variety and moderation are key elements of healthy eating
The food manufacturing industry supports the Dietitians of Canada position that there are no good and bad foods, but only good and bad diets. We support and promote the Dietitians of Canada's approach that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle provided that food choices are balanced and foods are consumed in moderation. According to Health Canada, healthy eating habits are not created or destroyed by any one food, meal or even a day's meals. It is the average of what people eat over time or the pattern of eating that is important to health." Food Guide Facts