Canadians care about nutrition but are confused by the variety of nutrition messages when they shop for food and dine out. In 1999, following extensive consultation and research, the Heart and Stroke Foundation developed Health Check to help Canadians make healthy food choices.

What is Health Check?
Health Check, the food information program of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, helps Canadians make healthy food choices. Health Check provides consumers with a quick visual reference (a symbol) on food packaging and, in a growing number of restaurants, beside healthy menu options. The symbol guarantees the food product or menu item has met specific nutrient criteria developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s registered dietitians, based on recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide. Health Check works directly with food companies and restaurants to improve the food supply by challenging them to meet stronger nutrient criteria and offer Canadians more healthy choices.

Helping Canadians Eat Well

The Heart and Stroke Foundation encourages consumers to choose vegetables and fruit, whole-grain products, lower-fat milk products and alternatives, and lower-fat meat and alternatives as the basis for a healthy diet and to cook with fresh ingredients. Health Check is one important way the Heart and Stroke Foundation helps Canadians identify food choices that can be part of a healthy diet based on Canada’s Food Guide. Health Check also encourages consumers to read the Nutrition Facts table provided on all food packages to compare products and make healthy choices.

How Health Check is Different
Health Check is the only non-profit, independent, and neutral food information program in the country – the food industry has no involvement in setting the nutrient criteria. The program is based on guidelines and nutrition recommendations for overall health, not heart health. Every food product and menu item in the program displays the Health Check symbol and a message explaining why it is a healthy choice.

Check out our Health Check™ items click here

For more information about the Health Check ™ program, visit www.healthcheck.org