Healthy Eating for Seniors Handbook
Last updated on January 27, 2022The Healthy Eating for Seniors handbook includes recipes, menu plans, and information on good nutrition. The handbook is available in English and French and has also been culturally adapted and translated into Chinese and Punjabi.
You can download your own copy of the handbook:
- Healthy Eating for Seniors - Chinese (PDF, 8.3MB)
- Healthy Eating for Seniors - English (PDF, 6.6MB)
- Healthy Eating for Seniors - French (PDF, 3.5MB)
- Healthy Eating for Seniors - Punjabi (PDF, 4.1MB)
Audio Book
Healthy Eating for Seniors is also available as an audio book online, in DAISY and MP3 formats, and at all B.C. public libraries.
- Listen to the Healthy Eating for Seniors Audiobook (MP3) online or download it for free.
Community Presentations
The Healthy Eating for Seniors community presentations are three engaging and interactive presentations that cover the key content from the handbook. The presentations are intended to support healthy eating for seniors in the community. A Facilitator’s Guide has been developed to support the delivery of the presentations.
You can download your own copy of the presentations and Facilitator’s Guide:
- Eat Well Age Well
- Vitamins, Minerals and Finding Information You Can Trust
- Recipe for Success
- Facilitator’s Guide
URL Directory
The Healthy Eating for Seniors handbook includes various references to other online resources. You can find these resources in alphabetical order below.
Alcohol and Aging – BC Ministry of Health
To learn about drinking guidelines and the effects of alcohol consumption and aging, please visit:
Referenced on page 32
Alzheimer’s Society of BC
To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and resources available in BC, please visit:
Referenced on pages 84, 135
Arthritis Society of Canada
The Arthritis Society of Canada provides information about arthritis and support for those living with arthritis. To learn more about arthritis and access support services, please visit:
Referenced on pages 115, 135
BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
The BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society publishes guides to healthy eating with traditional Aboriginal foods.
Referenced on page 136
BC Association of Kinesiologists
To learn more about the BC Association of Kinesiologists or to find an exercise professional near you, please visit:
Referenced on pages 37, 136
BC Cancer Agency
BC Cancer Agency provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of BC in partnership with regional health authorities. To learn more about services provided by BC Cancer Agency, please visit:
Referenced on page 70
BC Elders’ Guide
The First Nations Health Authority publishes useful health information in their BC Elders’ Guide to support Elders, their families and caregivers.
www.fnha.ca/wellnessContent/Wellness/BC_EldersGuide.pdf
Referenced on page 136
BC Dairy Association
To learn more about the BC Dairy Association, dairy products and nutrition, and to access the Calcium Calculator to tell you how much calcium you are getting from your diet, please visit:
Referenced on page 47
BC Fall & Injury Prevention Coalition
To access resources to help reduce falls and injury due to falls, please visit:
Referenced on page 95
BC Recreation and Parks Association
To learn more about parks, recreation, physical activity and culture sector in BC, and to find an exercise professional near you, please visit:
Referenced on pages 37, 137
Canada’s Food Guide - Health Canada
To get your copy of Canada’s Food Guide and to learn how to personalize the information found in Canada’s Food Guide, please visit:
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide
Referenced on pages 16, 188
Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society publishes an easy-to-read booklet on eating with cancer called Good Nutrition: A guide for people with cancer. To see this resource, please visit:
Referenced on pages 70, 135
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
To learn more about the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, and to find an exercise professional near you, please visit:
Referenced on pages 37, 136
College of Dietitians of BC
The College of Dietitians of BC is the regulatory body for all dietitians in BC. To learn more about the College, and to find a dietitian listed in the college’s public registry, please visit:
Referenced on page 137
Diabetes Canada
Diabetes Canada offers detailed information on nutrition and diabetes. To learn more about diabetes and access Diabetes Canada’s resources, please visit:
Referenced on pages 67, 135
Dietitians of Canada
Dietitians of Canada is a professional association representing dietitians across the country. To find nutrition advice, recipes and to find a dietitian, please visit:
Referenced on pages 135, 137
Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC
Dietitian Services specializes in easy-to-use nutrition information for self-care, based on current scientific sources. Registered dietitians offer free of charge telephone, email and web-based nutrition services to support the nutrition information, education and counselling needs of BC residents and health professionals.
To access Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC, please visit:
www.healthlinkbc.ca/dietitian-services
Referenced on pages 17, 70, 135
To email a HealthLink BC dietitian about food and nutrition, please visit:
www.healthlinkbc.ca/emaildietitian
Referenced on pages 17, 135
Find Services
The Find Services directory provides listings for health services provided by the provincial government, health authorities and non-profit agencies across the province. To find walk-in clinics, education centres, mental health programs, home care programs and other health services please visit:
www.healthlinkbc.ca/services-and-resources/find-services
Referenced on page 67
Food Safety
To learn more about how to keep your food safe, please visit:
www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/topics/food-safety.html
Referenced on page 127
Heart and Stroke Foundation
The Heart and Stroke Foundation can answer your questions about nutrition and its connection to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. They also have some great recipes for easy, tasty and nutritious dishes.
Referenced on pages 58, 136
Health Canada
Health Canada’s website (click on Food & Nutrition in the left-hand navigation bar) offers information on such topics as food safety, food labeling and genetically modified foods.
Referenced on page 136
HealthLink BC
HealthLink BC is a government-funded telehealth service launched in 2001, which provides non-emergency health information to the residents of BC through telephone, internet, mobile app and print resources. To access the services and resources provided by HealthLink BC, please visit:
Referenced on pages 64, 84, back cover
Informed Dining
The Informed Dining program was developed by the Province of British Columbia, in collaboration with the restaurant industry. Informed Dining gives you nutrition information you need to make informed choices when eating out at a participating restaurant. To find out more, please visit:
Referenced on page 122
Is there a difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?
To learn more about the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist, please visit:
www.dietitians.ca/thedifference
Referenced on page 23 of Facilitator’s Guide
Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions
Self-Management BC provides information on self-management and offers a free six-week course offered throughout the province. To learn more about self-managing, please visit:
Referenced on Page 135
Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate
The Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate is the regulating body for natural and non-prescriptive health products and ensures that they are safe, effective and of high quality. Before you try your health-related product, please visit:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/index-eng.php
Referenced on page 133
Navigation Services
Navigation Services helps with navigating the health care system, provides health information and helps with accessing services across province.
www.healthlinkbc.ca/navigation-services
Referenced on page 133
Nursing Services at HealthLink BC
Nursing Services provides non-emergency, confidential, health education and advice. HealthLink BC’s registered nurses can help you check your symptoms, determine if you should seek medical attention and provide education about your illness.
www.healthlinkbc.ca/nursing-services
Referenced on page 134
Osteoporosis Canada
Osteoporosis Canada has a number of easy-to-use resources for determining how much calcium you are receiving from your current diet. To find out more about nutrition and osteoporosis, please visit:
Referenced on page 74, 136
Pharmacist Services at HealthLink BC
Pharmacist Services provides information about medications and answers to medication-related questions. To access Pharmacist Services, please visit:
www.healthlinkbc.ca/pharmacist-services
Referenced on page 134
Physical Activity Services at HealthLink BC
Physical Activity Services provides general physical activity information and professional guidance to BC residents. To access Physical Activity Services or to find an exercise professional near you, please visit:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/physical-activity
Referenced on page 37, 134
QuitNow
QuitNow is the free, quit-smoking program of the Government of British Columbia, delivered by the BC Lung Association. For help with quitting smoking, please visit:
Referenced on page 50, 135
SeniorsBC
SeniorsBC is a website that provides information on programs, services, events and resources for older adults in BC. To access SeniorsBC, please visit:
Referenced on back cover
Understanding Food Labels
To learn more about how to read and interpret food labels, Nutrition Fact Tables, serving size, ingredients, % daily value and nutrition claims, please visit:
www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/understanding-food-labels.html
Referenced on page 111
Videos
The Healthy Eating for Seniors DVD contains 22 short videos in English (10 videos), Punjabi (6 videos), and Cantonese (6 videos).
- View the sample Healthy Eating for Seniors Vignettes on the Healthy Families BC Youtube channel.
Would you like to try some sample recipes from the handbook? Check out our: