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Community food security

Background

Community Food Security (CFS) means that all people have safe and nutritious food. Community food security can happen if we develop food systems that:

Can be sustained in the long term
Offer healthy food choices
Enable the community to be self-reliant
Provide equal access to affordable food for everyone

Position

Food security is a basic right for all Canadians. DC recognizes that CFS has a broad scope. We see the role of the larger food system in ensuring food security. CFS involves long-term planning with a wide range of stakeholders. We all must work together toward a healthy and sustainable food system.

Actions

In 2007, DC published a position paper on community food security which has been shared widely with governments at all levels, the media and other stakeholders with a commitment to supporting food security nationally and at the local level. Dietitians are involved in:

Supporting community food programs
Conducting and applying research findings
Working with coalitions to find solutions and take joint action on community food security issues
Using our Nutrition Month campaign to promote wider use of Canadian foods and those grown closer to home

Resources:

Meeting Consumer Demands for Healthy Eating: A Call to Action from Dietitians(Feb 2012) DC submitted this brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee, raising agriculture and agri-food issues from the DC position on Community Food Security (2007) and key messages from DC's brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (January 2012) Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: A Call to Action from Dietitians.
The Cost of Healthy Eating in Saskatchewan 2009: Impact of Food SecurityReport by the Public Health Nutritionists of Saskatchewan Working Group on the cost of eating a healthy diet as calculated using the 2008 National Nutritious Food Basket
Healthy Eating and Food Security: Promising Strategies for BC(2010) – a discussion paper outlining best and promising practices that can inform community action in the areas of food security and healthy eating in BC
Cost of Eating in BC: Low-income British Columbians can't afford healthy food, The(2009) – an advocacy report released by Dietitians of Canada, BC Region and the Community Nutritionists Council of BC to bring attention to the fact that not all British Columbians have enough money to buy healthy food
Cost of Eating in Alberta(2009) – an advocacy paper on the challenges faced by low income families in obtaining food for a healthy diet
Celebrate Food…From Field to Table - To Whet Your Appetite A fact sheet about choosing foods closer to home
Celebrate Food…From Field to Table - Fabulous Food Facts A fact sheet on food grown in Canada

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Food security

Listen to Dr. Patti Williams talk about dietitians and their work towards achieving food security for all Canadians.

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