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Health and Community Services
October 23, 2012

New Resource for Parents and Caregivers to Support Healthy Eating

Healthy eating practices established in a child’s early years set the foundation for a healthy life. To help parents guide children in making healthy food choices, the Provincial Government, in collaboration with the regional health authorities has developed a new guide, Healthy Eating for Your Toddler.

“Healthy eating is important for the health and well-being of people of all ages,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “It’s never too early to help children learn about nutritious food choices. The Healthy Eating for Your Toddler guide gives parents and caregivers practical information on how to help children develop positive eating habits that we hope will last for a lifetime.”

The guide provides answers to common questions about feeding toddlers, and instructs parents and caregivers on how to use Canada’s Food Guide to plan healthy meals and snacks. This new resource also contains:

“Through our family resource programs and regulated child care spaces, the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services promotes the importance of healthy child development by providing supportive programs and services to families with young children,” said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services. “This new guide is another valuable resource for parents who want to incorporate good nutritional practices into their everyday lives in support of their child’s overall health and well-being.”

Through collaboration with the regional health authorities, copies of Healthy Eating for Your Toddler will be made available to the general public during the regular 12-month Child Health Clinic visit and at regional health promotion offices. The guide is also available on the Department of Health and Community Services website at: www.health.gov.nl.ca  and the Baby-Friendly NL website at: www.babyfriendlynl.ca.

“Healthy eating and child and youth development are identified as priority areas within the provincial wellness plan in which we invest $4.2 million annually,” said Minister Sullivan. “Our government will continue to develop initiatives and strengthen the supports available to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador that allow them to take action to improve their own health and wellness.”

Recommendations in the new guide support key directions and actions identified within provincial and regional strategies including: Go Healthy: Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Wellness Plan and, Eating Healthier in Newfoundland and Labrador: Provincial Food and Nutrition Plan.

In addition to the Healthy Eating for Your Toddler guide, the Provincial Government has developed two healthy eating toolkits. Partnering with family resource centres and the regional health authorities, the Healthy Baby Club Healthy Eating Toolkit and the Family Resource Centre Healthy Eating Toolkit promote healthy eating for children up to the age of six. This material helps family resource centre staff promote and support healthy eating among participants. This work was supported by the Provincial Wellness Grants Program. Since the launch of the Provincial Wellness Grants program in 2005, 211 community groups have received approximately $3.9 million to fund programs to enhance wellness.

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Photo: The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, and the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, mark the official release of the Toddler Healthy Eating Guide at the Conception Bay South Family Resource Centre. Pictured left to right: Minister Johnson; Jorja; Anderson; Minister Sullivan; Abigail; and Francesca Lee. – October 23, 2012

Media contacts:

Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
jennifertulk@gov.nl.ca
Michelle Hunt
Director of Communications
Department of Child, Youth and
Family Services
709-729-5148, 725-1593
michellehunt@gov.nl.ca

2012 10 23                         2:35 p.m.

 
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