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Ray Lekan, co-owner of Paulina Meat Market in Chicago, reaches for a steak Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004. More than two weeks since the emergence of the first case of mad cow in this country, there's been no evidence the disease has spread and Americans have stood steadfast by their beloved beef. (AP Photo/Aynsley Floyd)
INDEPTH: FOOD
Canada's Food Guides 1942-1992
CBC News Online | April 19, 2005

Canada introduced its first food "rules" in 1942 to tell Canadians about healthy eating during wartime rationing.

During the next 50 years, the guide for healthy eating changed as new research and new concerns changed what many Canadians ate.

Health Canada is expected to release a new version of the guide in the spring of 2006. The U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled its own updates in April 2005, but instead of a single new food "pyramid," the new plan has 12. People are meant to choose one pyramid based on age, gender and activity level.

The new American pyramid now uses measurements such as cups and ounces instead of the more vague "servings." It is also more specific about what kinds of food in each group are most healthy. Green, leafy vegetables are preferred over starchy ones, for example.

1942 | 1944 | 1949 | 1961 | 1977 | 1982 | 1992

Images and history courtesy Health Canada

















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QUICK FACTS:
Guidelines for Healthy Eating

1. Enjoy a variety of foods.
2. Emphasize cereals, breads, other grain products, vegetables and fruit.
3. Choose lower-fat dairy products, leaner meats and food prepared with little or no fat.
4. Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight by enjoying regular physical activity and healthy eating.
5. Limit salt, alcohol and caffeine.

Source: Health Canada

EXTERNAL LINKS:
CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. Links will open in new window.

External links: Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Living (1992 version)

U.S. Department of Agriculture food guide pyramid

Canada's Food Guide for Healthy Living website

Foodshare

McDonald's Canada nutrition calculator

Center for Science and the Public Interest: Health Nutrition and Diet

Scientific American: Rebuilding the Food Pyramid

Health Canada tipsheet on Nutrition Facts table

Health Canada tipsheet on diet-related health claims

Canadian Food Inspection Agency 2003 Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising

Centre for Science in the Public Interest

Food Processors of Canada

Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors
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