Nutrition

Whatever our stage of life and whatever our food preferences, what we eat provides the foundation of our health and wellness. At the Caring Circle we try to provide you with starting points for you to learn more about what food choices are best for you.

Dieticians

Ellie Mackay MScRD Nutritional counsellor with VCH. West Community Health Centre (West Van) Chronic disease, pre and post surgical nutritional issues, and/or any gastrointestinal concerns. 604-904-6200 ext 1501 – Ellen.mackay@vch.ca.

www.dietitians.ca
www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca
www.healthycanadians.gc.ca
www.heartandstroke.ca/get-healthy

Canadian Celiac Association for those with gluten sensitivities and intolerances.
www.celiac.ca

Nutritionists

Heidi Mather – BSc, L. Ac, R.Ac, Dip NT, RHN. The key to my approach is that I allow myself extra time in clinic to thoroughly investigate my client’s story. My goal is to understand the symptoms AND the root cause. My blend of eastern and western training provides me with a broad perspective with which to give the appropriate recommendations. Phone: 778 580 6647 or 604 947 9755.

Emily Pett  – B.J., M.A., Certified Evidence-Based Nutritionist specializing in: weight management, sports nutrition, digestive disorders and allergies, meal planning, healthy aging and eating for mental health. Phone: 604-613-7698, email: emilypettnutrition@gmail.com

Natasha Vaz – Culinary Nutritionist – Helps people integrate healthy foods into their diet. Whether you’re trying to go gluten-free, dairy free, vegetarian, or just want to eat healthier, let Natasha help you plan a tasty and healthy menu that’s right for you.
604 999 0279 info@vazwellness.com

For a full list of local nutritionists, see our Health Resource Guide here.

Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC

Anywhere in B.C: 8-1-1
TTY (Deaf and hearing-impaired): 7-1-1
Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC are available online and by telephone to answer your diet and nutrition-related questions. You can learn about topics such as diabetes, heart health, cancer, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and nutrition for babies and children. If you need more information or counselling, our dietitians can direct you to outpatient dietitians, community nutritionists or other services in your community.
Call 8-1-1 free-of-charge from anywhere in B.C. to speak to a registered dietitian 8am – 8pm Monday to Thursday and 8am – 5pm Friday, or email Dietitians Services with your questions 24/7/365.
Translation services are available in over 130 languages upon request.

British Columbia’s Healthy Eating Resources

http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthyeating/

General Nutrition Information

Vancouver Farmers Markets (otherwise known as Your Local Farmers Market Society) www.eatlocal.org is about people who love fresh food at festive gatherings. With the initial goal in 1995 to create the fun and value of weekly Farmers Markets in urban settings, the Society and the Markets have become Vancouver plazas of fun, discovery, and connecting.

www.farmfolkcityfolk.ca – FarmFolk CityFolk is a not for profit society working to cultivate a local, sustainable food system. Our projects provide access to and protection of farmland; support local growers and producers; and engage communities in the celebration of local food.\

www.getlocalbc.org – an initiative of FFCF to get metro-vancouver-ites eating local, seasonal food.

www.bcfarmersmarket.org – BC association of farmer’s markets

www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca – an impressive listing of resources from wineries to events and festivals

www.ewg.org – Environmental Working Group – an independent organization that tests for toxicity in our water, food and products and lobby’s for better standards (ie: Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 produce list)

www.beyondfactoryfarming.org – a fresh look at clean farming practices and its health benefits.

www.organicconsumers.org – an excellent food advocacy organization, providing cutting edge information and resources to consumers

www.seachoice.org – sustainable seafood

www.davidsuzuki.org – Check out David Suzuki’s Queen of Green blog – she features healthy/enviro friendly eating tips regularly.

www.sustainabletable.org – GRACE Communications Foundation builds partnerships and develops innovative media strategies that increase public awareness of the relationships among food, water and energy systems.

www.michaelpollan.com – An award winning journalist and author of multiple best selling books on the state of our food system and public health (In Defence of Food, Omnivore’s Dilemma, Food Rules, Cooked)

www.polyfacefarms.com – Joel Satalin, a modern agricultural pioneer (featured in Food Inc. documentary), encouraging farmers and consumers to support natural growing of foods and raising of animals.

Eating Disorders

http://www.cmha.bc.ca/get-informed/mental-health-information/eating-disorders
https://keltymentalhealth.ca/info/eating-disorders

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/snake-oil-supplements/
This site looks at the scientific evidence for health supplements.

Canada’s Food Guide

www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php

Nutrition Books

Healing With Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford – an excellent East meets West resource book (a cult classic!) including a large chapter on cancer and regeneration diets.

The Jungle Effect, Dr. Daphne Miller – as great book regarding indigenous diets and why they

are healthier and how we can return to a more whole, natural diet. Very easy to read, great resources within including grocery lists for various indigenous healthy diets.

Food Rules, Michael Pollan – brings a welcome simplicity to our daily decisions about food. Written with the clarity, concision and wit that has become bestselling author Michael Pollan’s trademark, this indispensable handbook lays out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely, one per page accompanied by a concise explanation. It’s an easy-to-use guide that draws from a variety of traditions, suggesting how different cultures through the ages have arrived at the same enduring wisdom about food. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this is the perfect guide for anyone who ever wondered, “What should I eat?”.

The Life Bridge – The Way to Longevity with Probiotic Nutrients, Richard Sarnat M.D., Paul Schulick and Thomas Newmark – The title kind of says it all; an account of the many benefits of probiotic foods and supplements.

Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, Paul Stamets (Mycologist) – A great resource book on some of the top, most studied medicinal (and nutritional) mushrooms; many of which can be found in the Pacific Northwest.

Never Say Diet Discover Wisdom – Judy Toews
http://www.amazon.ca/Never-Say-Diet-Discover-Wisdom/dp/1550139258/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366931453&sr=8-1&keywords=Judy+toews

The China Study – T. Colin Campbell
chapters.indigo.ca/Books

Schools

www.csnn.ca – local holistic nutrition school where many local Nutritionists have graduated from.

http://www.instituteofholisticnutrition.com/ – another reputable holistic nutrition school located in Vancouver.

http://rawfoodfoundation.org/ – The RAW Foundation Culinary Arts Institute is Canada’s leading raw and living food culinary and nutrition school devoted to helping individuals and corporations improve their health by educating on the benefits of a plant based diet & healthy living; empowering both home & professional chefs to prepare delicious, raw & living food meals and share this passion with others, doing what they love

Films

Food Inc.http://www.takepart.com/foodinc)  A very revealing documentary about the poor state of our current modern food system and how to make better choices.

www.freshthemovie.com – The underground documentary that became a massive grassroots success, FRESH is the embodiment of the good food movement.

http://www.hungryforchange.tv/ – “This film is vitally important to you, your family and the future well being of our nation. Watch it and apply what you learn. It may save your life.” Reveals the power the diet industry’s marketing has over consumers’ choice of foods and how poor food choices and lifestyles lead to the obesity and heart disease and cancer epidemics we see today. There is also an emphasis on what can be done to improve your health.