Public Health Nutrition

Public Health Dietitians work to promote healthy growth and development in children & youth, and optimal physical and mental health across the lifespan by promoting and supporting food/nutrition security, food literacy, and a positive relationship with food and eating. We advocate for equity in communities' ability to access nourishing food. Our services are offered at no cost.

Who do Public Health Dietitians work with?

• Community agencies (family/child/youth-serving agencies)
• Community groups (parent groups)
• Community networks (health networks, early years tables)
• Food security hubs
• Governments 
• Health professionals (Island Health & non-Island Health)
• Post-secondary institutions (colleges, universities)
• Schools & school districts.

How can Public Health Dietitians support you?

• Support around food/nutrition programming (activities, curriculum development, evaluation)
• Provide advocacy and knowledge translation around food/nutrition 
• Be a guest speaker for groups (early years nutrition, food & mood, food & diet myth vs fact)
• Participate in community events 
• Support grant applications
• Promote healthy public policy & environments around food & nutrition 
• Provide staff/volunteer professional development & training.

Recommended Resources

Dietitian Access & Referrals

• Island Health Outpatient Dietitian Services
• Island Health Indigenous Health Dietitians
• Options for Accessing a Dietitian

Babies & Young Children

• Baby's First Foods HealthLinkBC 
• Healthy Eating for Babies Age 6 to 12 Months
• Iron for Babies and Toddlers
• Baby's Best Chance: Pregnancy & Baby Care  
• Toddler's First Steps: Guide to Parenting Your 6 to 36 Month Old Child
• HealthLinkBC Infant, Child & Youth Nutrition 
• Picky Eating Tips to Support Eaters in Training

Children Age 5-18 Years

• Canada’s Food Guide
• Nurturing Confidence: Food, Eating & Bodies in School
• HealthLinkBC Infant, Child & Youth Nutrition

Body Image

• Embody Body Image Resources
• Media Smarts Body Image Resources
• Nurturing Confidence: Food, Eating & Bodies

Eating Disorders

• Island Health Eating Disorder Services 
• Embody BC Eating Disorders Prevention & Awareness
• National Eating Disorder Information Centre

Feeding Relationship & Eating Together

• Adult Provides, Child Decides
• Eating Together, Eating Better
• Ellyn Satter Eat & Feed with Joy
• Mealtime Conversation Cards for Children & Youth 
• Mealtime Conversation Cards for Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Nurturing Confidence: Food, Eating & Bodies in Schools
• Picky Eating Tips to Support Eaters in Training

Food Allergies

• Food Allergies HealthLinkBC
• Food Allergy Canada
• Reducing Risk of Food Allergy in Your Baby

Food Safety

• Food Safety BCCDC
• Food, Water & Beverage Safety HealthLinkBC

Food Security

• BC211 Resource Finder 
• BC & Federal Nutrition Benefits HealthLinkBC
• Food Banks BC
• Alberni Valley Food Security Society 
• Cowichan Green Community Food Hub 
• Eat West Coast (Clayoquot/Tofino Food Hub)
• Strathcona Food Network (Greenways Land Trust)
• Lush Valley Food Action Society (Comox Valley)
• Nanaimo Foodshare Food Hub
• Mount Waddington Community Food Initiative
• Victoria Area Food Hub (CRFAIR)
• Victoria Area Foodshare Network 

Meal and Snack Ideas

• Canada’s Food Guide Recipes
• Cookspiration Recipes Dietitans of Canada
• Jump Start Your Day with Breakfast
• Lunches to Go HealthLinkBC
• Meal & Snack Ideas for Your 1 to 3 Year Old Child HealthLinkBC
• Quick & Easy Lunch Ideas UnlockFood

Pregnancy/Perinatal

• Baby's Best Chance: Pregnancy & Baby Care
• Food Safety during Pregnancy HealthLinkBC 
• Healthy Eating Guidelines for Pregnancy HealthLinkBC 
• The Pregnancy Hub Infant Feeding Courses & More 

Vitamins & Minerals

• Calcium and Your Health HealthLinkBC
• Folate and Your Health HealthLinkBC
• Folic Acid & Pregnancy: Preventing Neural Tube Defects 
• Iron and Your Health HealthLinkBC
• Iron in Foods HealthLinkBC 
• Vitamin B12 Nutrition Check HealthLinkBC
• Vitamin D and Your Health HealthLinkBC
• Vitamin D and You

Reliable Nutrition Information

• Canada’s Food Guide
• HealthLinkBC Dietitian Services  
• HealthLinkBC Healthy Eating
• Health Canada Food & Nutrition
• First Nations Health Authority
• UnlockFood Dietitians of Canada

Learn more about Healthy Schools
Learn more about Community Engagement
Learn more about Food Security Hubs