Crown Public Health

Areas we work in / Ngā Wāhi Mahi

NUTRITION

Healthy examples from the different food groupsOne of Community and Public Health's visions is to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in our region by providing opportunities to assist people to make healthier choices. Specific work is focussed on outcomes and actions to create change in food, nutrition and physical activity environments and behaviours, such as increasing access to food (food security).

Community and Public Health staff are working towards promoting a nutrition environment which fosters healthy eating, along with resources that support actions to reduce poor nutrition that may result in chronic disease.  The Key Messages for a Healthy lifestyle include:

  • Eat a variety of nutritious foods
  • Eat less fatty, salty, sugary foods
  • Eat more vegetables and fruits
  • Exclusively breastfeed infants for six months, and introduce complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for at least one year and beyond
  • Be active every day for at least 30 minutes in as many ways as possible
  • Add some vigorous exercise for extra benefit and fitness
  • Aim to maintain a healthy weight throughout life
  • Promote and foster the development of environments that support healthy lifestyles.

Community and Public Health staff are involved in the promotion of nutrition in education settings, within the community, and also in workplaces.
These settings can have a direct impact on the health and motivation of those involved (individuals, staff, and students). 

Examples of current initiatives include:

Staff also produced a number of publications listed below, available for download:


Documents


PDF A Focus on Nutrition: Key findings of the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey (Ministry of Health)
PDF A National Survey of Children and Young People's Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviours in New Zealand: 2008/09 - Key Findings (Ministry of Health)
PDF Nutrition and the Burden of Disease 1997-2011 (Ministry of Health)
PDF A Portrait of Health: Key results of the 2006/7 New Zealand Health Survey (Ministry of Health)
PDF Food Costs for Families (Agencies for Nutrition Action)

Downloads

Order copies from the Community Health Information Centre


PDF Eating for Healthy Children Aged 2 -12
PDF Eating for Healthy Infants and Toddlers
PDF Eating for Healthy Teenagers
PDF Eating for Healthy Adult New Zealanders
PDF Eating for Healthy Vegetarians
PDF Eating for Healthy Older People
PDF Everyday Eating for Health
PDF VegUp - Maori and Pacific culture versions available for download

Links

Agencies for Nutrition Action
Te Hotu Manawa Maori
Nutrition (Ministry of Health)
Breakfast Eaters (Health Sponsorship Council)
Feeding Our Families (Health Sponsorship Council)
Breastfeeding (Ministry of Health)
Canterbury Breastfeeding Network
La Leche League
Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL)
Food Standards Australia New Zealand

   
 
 

Latest Healthy Nibbles
Merry Christmas

Healthy Nibbles For Teens
Breakfast Kick Starts the Day

Featured Recipe
Tomato Bean Salad

 
 

 

 
 

For further information on any of these projects, contact:

Workplaces and Food Security
Janne Pasco
Ph: +64 3 364 1777

Cooking Skills to Life Skills
Jill Westenra
Ph: +64 3 375 7192

For additional information, contact:

Canterbury
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6125

South Canterbury
Ph: +64 3 688 6019
Fax: +64 3 688 6091