McGuinty Government Launches EatRight Ontario Telephone Service

    Nutrition Information Phone Line Connects Ontarians To Registered
    Dietitians

    TORONTO, July 18 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is continuing to improve
the health of all Ontarians by launching the free EatRight Ontario telephone
information service that provides healthy eating and nutrition advice.
    "Credible information on nutrition and healthy eating is key to good
health. That's why we've created the EatRight Ontario telephone service - to
provide Ontarians with a new free resource that connects them directly with
qualified individuals who can discuss healthy food choices and explain
diet-related health risk factors," said Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson.
    The toll-free EatRight Ontario telephone service enables individuals to
ask Registered Dietitians nutrition questions by calling 1-877-510-510-2 or
visiting www.ontario.ca/eatright.
    The EatRight Ontario team of Registered Dietitians is available by phone
Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. The service is available in over
120 languages including Mandarin, Korean; Polish; German; Spanish, Ukrainian;
Punjabi; Hungarian; Portuguese; Italian; Arabic.
    The call centre was developed in partnership with the Dietitians of
Canada, to help Ontario families become better informed about healthy food
choices, especially in rural areas where Registered Dietitians are not easily
accessible.
    "Dietitians of Canada is pleased to have a key role in making this
service a reality," said Helen Haresign, VP Development for Dietitians of
Canada. "We know that the public is interested in nutrition and trusts the
nutrition advice from Registered Dietitians. EatRight Ontario gives Ontarians
better access to an authoritative information source that can help guide their
daily food choices."
    The www.ontario.ca/eatright website offers articles on nutrition,
including healthy weights, family and seniors' nutrition and disease
prevention, tips on packing healthy lunches and food labeling, and links to
valuable resources within Ontario's health network.
    EatRight Ontario is just one example of how, working together, Ontarians
are achieving results in building a healthier Ontario. Other initiatives
include:-  Launching the Smoke Free Ontario Strategy to reduce tobacco
           consumption in Ontario by 20 per cent by the end of 2007.
        -  Creating the Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Action Plan
           to encourage all Ontarians, especially youth, to live a healthy,
           active lifestyle.
        -  Developing the comprehensive ACTIVE2010 strategy to increase
           participation in sport and physical activity throughout Ontario.

                           www.ontario.ca/eatright

For further information: Adam Grachnik, Minister's Office ,(416)
326-8497; Julie Rosenberg, Communications Branch, [phone]