Food is essential to life and key for achieving and maintaining health and for activities we do every day, such as being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.  A wide variety of healthy foods provides nutrients we need to feel good, keep healthy and the energy to learn, work and play.  To keep healthy:

• Eat foods that provide energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.
• Drink water right from the tap
• Eat more traditional and locally grown foods. 
• Eat amounts of foods recommended for your age, sex and activity levels.
• Eat fewer processed foods (less added sugar, fat and salt) – this is also better for the environment. 

A steady diet of unhealthy foods can cause serious long-term health problems. For example: 

• Heart disease, stroke and other diseases of the circulatory system are linked to high fat, high salt diets.
• Sugary foods, such as sweetened drinks and candies, are directly linked to obesity and dental disease, such as cavities, gum disease and missing teeth.
• Too much weight around the waist is often the result of taking in more calories than we need.  Being obese is linked to Type 2 diabetes.
• Risk for colorectal cancer can be reduced by keeping at a healthy weight, eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains and eating less fatty meats.

For practical tips and information on eating for good health and to maintain a healthy weight, visit the following:

• Advice for Different Ages and Stages (Health Canada)
• NWT Traditional Food Fact Sheets
• NWT Vegetable Food Fact Sheets
• Nutrition A-Z (Dietitians of Canada)
• BMI for Adults (Dietitians of Canada)

For additional resources, please visit the Government of Canada’s website for information on:

• Food Labels
• Healthy eating