File

This file chronicles educational campaigns conducted by the Canadian government to address certain public health issues associated with food and alcohol consumption. It is composed of three brochures published by the Department of National Health and Welfare (later known by the names Health and Welfare Canada and Health Canada).

Written for nurses and teachers—professionals seen as well placed to inform families and students about nutrition—Alimentation saine (Healthy Eating) is a 1963 guide that provides detailed information to promote healthy eating habits. There are descriptions of the food groups in the Canadian Food Guide, a sample weekly menu, and recommendations on making a budget, and buying, storing and cooking foods. One entire chapter looks at the functions of the various nutrients, while others offer recommendations for each age group, the specific needs of convalescents, and diets for pregnant and nursing mothers. While the authors of the brochure believe that learning more about the nutritional values of foods is key to adopting healthy eating habits, they also stress that the success of this approach relies on serving an array of appetizing dishes. For example, readers are advised to combine a variety of colours, shapes, textures and tastes. To help convalescents recover their strength, the brochure notes that it is important to consider their likes and dislikes, take special care with the presentation of the food, and encourage them to eat.

The file also contains a brochure entitled Les illusionistes, published in 1981 by Health and Welfare Canada. This booklet offers a variety of non-alcoholic cocktail recipes created by Margo Oliver, identified on the cover as the food editor of Today magazine. Avoiding a preachy tone, this publication simply presents alternative solutions for teetotallers and the health-conscious, while the slick photographs illustrating the brochure evoke the indulgent, festive atmosphere associated with cocktail hour.

Finally, an informative, bilingual Health Canada publication from 2000 entitled Food Safety and You (Des aliments sains… chez vous! in French) completes the file. This brochure describes the respective roles of the Canadian government, its agencies and ministries, and provincial and territorial governments with respect to food safety. It also identifies the consumer's responsibilities in a series of food safety tips. Some of the topics discussed are storing and thawing food, preparing and cooking food, cleaning hands, utensils and work surfaces, and using leftovers. There is a section on laws and regulations associated with food labelling, the approval process for "novel" foods (i.e., "biotechnology-derived" "genetically modified" or "genetically enhanced" foods), and the role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.