Nutrition Resources for Professionals and Partners

Dietitian Services

• Call Health Connect Ontario 8-1-1 or visit the website - Speak with a dietitian at no cost and no need for referral. 
• Find a Registered Dietitian in Ottawa - Ottawa Public Health – Find a dietitian in Ottawa.  

Healthy Eating 

• Canada's food guide (Government of Canada)
• Canada's Food Guide Toolkit for Educators (Health Canada) - The toolkit is intended for use by health and education intermediaries that work with children aged 4 to 11, to help them explore foods, learn food skills, develop healthy eating habits, and understand Canada’s food guide.
• Best Start Resource Centre - Information and print resources on prenatal, infant and child nutrition.
• Parenting in Ottawa - healthy eating through the lifecycle for:
  • Babies and Toddlers (Birth to 3 years)
  • Children (4 to 11 years)
  • Teens (12 to 18 years)
  • Pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding

• UnlockFood.ca (Dietitians of Canada) - Search by a topic, e.g., allergies, diabetes, budget cooking, heart health, meal planning, older adults, picky eating, weight management etc.

Meal and Food Programs

• 2-1-1 Ontario connects people to community and social resources, including food programs and services across Ontario. This includes cooking classes and facilities, food delivery service, food banks, free/low-cost meals, grow/pick your own food, programs where fresh food products can be purchased and more. 

Poverty and Food Insecurity

• Poverty: A Clinical Tool for Primary Care Providers is a screening tool to identify patients living in poverty.  
• Free tax clinics are available to help you file your income tax returns and receive government benefits and credits.

Chronic Disease Prevention

• Community Diabetes Education Program of Ottawa (CDEPO)
• Eating for a Healthy Heart (University of Ottawa Heart Institute)
• Healthy Eating for Diabetes Prevention and Management (Diabetes Canada)

Child Care Nutrition 

• Child Care Resources (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health)
  
• Healthy Environments in Child Care  - These resources focus on promoting healthy eating, encouraging physical activity, practicing sun safety, and instilling lifelong habits. 
• Raise Healthy Eaters (poster) [PDF 660 KB]

School Nutrition 

• After School Programs - Ottawa Public Health's I Love to Cook and Play and I Love to Garden programs that promote healthy living to children and youth.
• School Health Online - A platform to support the delivery of the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum and enhance the teaching experience. 
• Student Nutrition Program (Government of Ontario)
  • School Nutrition Guidelines 2020 [PDF 1,891 KB]
• School Nutrition Resources (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health)
  • 10 Tips to Help Your Child Have a Positive Relationship with Food and Their Body [PDF 347] 
    
  • Creating a Positive Food Environment in Schools [PDF 409 KB] NEW!
  • Healthy Schools: Linking Nutrition and Mental Well-Being [PDF 123 KB]
  • Mental Health and Weight Bias at Schools [PDF 655 KB]
  • Nurturing Healthy Eaters in Elementary Schools [PDF 500 KB]
  • Nurturing Healthy Eaters in Secondary Schools [PDF 467 KB]
  • School Lunch Your Kids will Munch (parent handout) [PDF 1,075 KB] 

• BrightBites - Resources for teachers and school leaders to improve school nutrition and the eating habits of students.
• Language Learning for Health - Lesson plans for adult English as a Second Language (ESL) learners on healthy eating, Canada’s food guide, food labelling, and much more. Designed by Ottawa Public Health and Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
• Marketing of Unhealthy Food and Drinks to Children and Youth

Workplace Nutrition

• Healthy Eating at Work (Government of Canada)
• Workplace Wellness (Dietitians of Canada)

Nutrition Data and Reports

• Canada’s Dietary Guidelines for Health Professionals and Policy Makers (Health Canada)
• Food Insecurity and Nutritious Food Basket in Ottawa
• Nutrition Data