Promoting environments that foster healthy eating

One of Community and Public Health’s visions is to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in our region. We do so by providing education and developing policies to make the healthy choice the easy choice.

Specific work is focussed on actions and outcomes 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, and 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.

Discover the 49 items on the NEEDNT list of non-essential, energy dense, nutritionally-deficient food compiled by the University of Otago.

Nourishing Futures with Better Kai

Community and Public Health West Coast developed this resource for parents of toddlers and young children.

This booklet is designed to help parents with all things nutrition for their little one, to set them up for healthy habits throughout their life.

Feeding your family for less or on a budget

Community and Public Health staff are also interested in addressing issues around access and availablilty of affordable food (food security). This involves working with disadvantaged groups such as those on low incomes and those living alone (especially men). If you are finding it hard to make your food budget stretch, then try one of the following menu plans for some new ideas.

Download some easy tasty recipes created by Community and Public Health staff.

Download information sheets and recipes from the Fruit and Vege Co-operative.

Promoting nutrition in a variety of settings

Community and Public Health staff promote nutrition in workplaces, community and education settings. Working in these locations has a direct impact on the health and motivation of those involved, such as individuals, staff, and students.

Current work by Community and Public Health staff includes:

  • supporting schools’ edible gardens and orchards;
  • helping schools to develop nutrition policies around canteens, lunches and fundraising;
  • assisting schools to become Water Only Schools;
  • supporting tertiary institutions to develop nutrition policies;
  • supporting community groups with nutrition resources; and
  • providing expertise to help community organisations and councils develop and apply healthy food and beverage policies.

Read the latest Healthy Nibbles information sheet.

Helping to create healthier workplaces

Healthy Food and Drink Policy for Organisations graphic.Current initiatives are focussed on assisting workplaces in the development of wellness programmes.
There is growing evidence that comprehensive workplace health promotion programs are cost effective and improve employee health. Identified benefits include increased employee satisfaction and retention, and decreased absenteeism and injuries on the job.

Community and Public Health has developed a framework that is flexible and easily adapted to suit the needs of an organisation. The framework consists of a step-by-step process through several different elements to create a tailored health promotion programme. This approach has been shown to increase morale in the workplace as employees work together to meet the challenges of adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Working to improve food resilience in Christchurch and Canterbury

Community and Public Health is part of the Food Resilience Network (FRN) aiming to create and maintain Ōtākaro Orchard – a highly accessible, engaging, and unique orchard and garden in central Christchurch. The space will show sustainable and organic food systems in practice and build on its history as a place to gather mahinga kai. There will also be an information centre and a collaborative café, alongside the Canterbury Horticultural Society.

Community and Public Health is also a signatory to the Edible Canterbury Charter.

Advice on weight management for adults, children and teenagers

Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer. It can help ensure that your bones and joints are not under too much stress.

Eating well, being active and getting enough quality sleep are key elements to help support a healthy weight, increase your energy levels, support mental health, and maintain activities of daily living.

The Ministry of Health have provided some guidelines to help you improve your sleep, eat healthier and be more active.

Tips for adults

Tips for children

Tips for teenagers

Documents

Downloads

Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.

Links

For more information, contact:

CANTERBURY
Bek Parry
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6125

MID CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 307 6902
Fax: +64 3 307 6904

SOUTH CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 687 2600
Fax: +64 3 688 6091

WEST COAST
Jade Winter
Ph: +64 3 768 1160
Fax: +64 3 768 1169

Contacts for individual or specialist nutrition support and advice

Registered Dietitians help people to improve their health and lifestyle through optimal nutrition.

Find a dietitian near you (Dietitians New Zealand)

Order a seasonal recipe book from the Community Health Information Centre.

Seasonal cooking in Canterbury - Winter (NUT0073B)

Programmes to boost nutrition knowledge and literacy

Appetite for Life (AFL) is a six-week healthy lifestyle programme. The programme focuses on small changes adding up to large improvements rather than dieting.

Senior Chef is a programme helping those 56 years and older. The programme teaches meal planning, budgeting, and how to cook simple nutritious meals.

Join the Fruit and Vegetable Co-op in greater Christchurch

The Fruit and Vegetable Co-op is now called Foodtogether. It operates as a stand-alone social enterprise in Christchurch and North Canterbury, and is supported by the Healthy Life Trust.

There are also other fruit and vegetable co-operatives in Christchurch such as the:

Page last updated: 08/07/2019

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