Starting this week, Dial-a-Dietitian is a new service now available through the provincial HealthLine. The purpose of Dial-a-Dietitian is to encourage people to make healthier, more informed food choices and to receive helpful information or tips on healthy eating and nutrition. A referral from a health care provider to use the Dial-a-Dietitian service is not needed. Available to all residents throughout the province, people can dial 811 for free, confidential, and easy access to the trusted advice of a registered dietitian. Dietitians are available to speak with callers from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Dietitians are also able to respond to email inquiries. Your questions can be sent directly to a dietitian using the Dial-A-Dietitian link on the www.yourhealthline.ca website. People can call or email on behalf of themselves, or on behalf of a family member or a friend. In addition, health care providers can call or email on behalf of a client, themselves or for general information purposes. Expansion of the HealthLine to include the services of registered dietitians is an initiative under the Provincial Government’s Chronic Disease Action Plan. The Chronic Disease Action Plan balances the need to improve health and address key priorities outlined in The Way Forward. For more information about the NL HealthLine, visit: www.yourhealthline.ca . Quotes “We are pleased to see the expansion of the province’s HealthLine to include the services of registered dietitians. Residents can now contact 811 directly and get answers to nutrition questions they may have, receive information on healthy eating and be referred to additional services in their area of the province if needed. People living with chronic diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease, will benefit from easily accessible dietary advice. Dial-a-Dietitian will also benefit those caring for seniors or those with special needs who may struggle with not knowing how to modify diets for certain health conditions.”/> Honourable John Haggie Minister of Health and Community Services “Including access to a registered dietician through the HealthLine is another important step forward as we promote healthy lifestyles. Dietitians will be available to all residents of the province to provide advice, which will support healthier living – something our government committed to in The Way Forward. We have committed to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity rates and decreasing obesity rates in an effort to reduce the high rates of chronic diseases in this province.” Honourable Lisa Dempster Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development “This service will allow more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians the opportunity to access reliable, life-changing advice from dietitians, no matter where they live. Local dietitians will be standing by to answer questions from how to feed your baby to food safety and everything in between.” Jackie Spiers, Dietitians of Canada in Newfoundland “The addition of the Dial-a-Dietitian service to the HealthLine will greatly improve access for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to reliable food and nutrition information. As our province has high rates of chronic health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity, all which are impacted by nutrition and other lifestyle choices. Access to a registered dietitian for safe accurate nutrition information will be invaluable. The Dial-a-Dietitian service is another step to improving the overall health of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.” Marjorie Scott Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dietitians

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Learn More HealthLine – www.yourhealthline.ca Chronic Disease Management Action Plan – www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/chronicdisease/pdf/chronic_illness.pdf Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL, @HCS_GovNL and @CSSD_GovNL Media contacts Debbie Marnell Health and Community Services 709-729-6986, 699-9048 DebbieMarnell@gov.nl.ca Gina MacArthur Children, Seniors and Social Development 709-729-3768, 730-2977 GinaMacarthur@gov.nl.ca Kate Comeau Dietitians of Canada kate.comeau@dietitians.ca Marjorie Scott Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dietitians 709-753-4040 mscott@nf.sympatico.ca