A Message from Ministers Dosanjh and Bennett

Nutrition Month, March, 2005

March is Nutrition Month. As Minister of Health and Minister of State for Public Health, we would like to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity.

National Nutrition Month provides positive messages and practical solutions that support Canadians in eating well, being active and feeling good about themselves. The theme for this year's Dietitians of Canada campaign is "Go the Healthy Way - Eat Well, Live Well and Feel Great." This is a timely topic, given that more and more Canadians are overweight or obese.

The Government of Canada is taking a leadership role to promote healthy eating and physical activity through the Pan-Canadian Heathy Living Strategy and the $300 million committed in Budget 2005 for an Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease. Healthy eating habits, regular physical activity and achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada join Dietitians of Canada in raising awareness about healthy lifestyles. We congratulate Dietitians of Canada on their initiatives to motivate and enable Canadians to make informed choices to improve their health. We encourage you to make healthy food choices and be physically active. For more information, view Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living

Please join us in using this month to reflect on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.

For more information on Dietitians of Canada Nutrition Month.