You have made a commitment to help change our food system. We believe that our food choices can make a real difference, so we’ve designed this guide to help you choose a Food Pledge Adventure, and support you as you put your commitment into action.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU PLAY?
As you put the principles and values of the Food Pledge into action, remember that you play many roles in your life, and that you have many different opportunities to transform the local food system. Recognize that you have power in each of your roles, and look out for actions that you can try out in different contexts or situations!
CONSUMER
Your choices as a consumer affect your health and the health of your community.
How can consumers make a difference?
- Change your shopping habits
- Reduce household food waste
- Learn more about food
PRODUCER
As a producer you affect the local economy, environment, and culture.
How can producers improve the local food system?
- Choose environmentally healthy growing practices
- Support community gardens
- Sell surplus crops to at-risk populations
BUSINESSES
Businesses drive change in the local food economy.
How can businesses lead by example?
- Support healthy eating in the workplace
- Connect with local food suppliers
- Sponsor food-related events
POLICY MAKERS
Policy makers shape many aspects of our food system.
How can policy makers make positive change?
- Protect agricultural land
- Promote local, sustainable food
- Support access to healthy food for all community members
Eating
Choosing healthy, local, and sustainable food is an important part of the Food Pledge—and a great way to promote better health while building community connections. Although changing your personal or household food habits can be a big challenge, it is also an exciting and rewarding process. The resources in this section will help you to get started as you explore new ways to access, grow, prepare, preserve, or share nourishing food.
Every meal is an opportunity to get creative and put the Food Pledge into action, so get started today!
Bring Good Food Into your Kitchen
Plan meals and menus to eat better and save money:
Take cooking classes, engage with a community kitchen, and learn quick or economical approaches to food preparation and preservation:
Participate in a bulk buying program for more affordable fresh and/or local food:
Organize or participate in a food swap:
Reduce Your Food Waste
- “Ban the Bin: Cutting Food Waste in Canada” Fact Sheet (Bronwen Tucker)
- “Help End Food Waste” (David Suzuki Foundation)
- Just Eat It (Film)
- Manure & Food Waste in St. André (Renewables NB)
- “Minimizing Food Waste” (UN Environment)
- “This Startup Will Help the World Reduce Food Waste” (Opportunities NB)
Eat and Serve Ugly Food
- “Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables” (Intermarché campaign)
- The Ugly Fruit and Veg Campaign (EndFoodWaste.org)
Display your #DeliciousUglyFood on Facebook & Instagram!
#OurFoodAction
Learning
Knowledge is power when it comes to making food choices that benefit your health, your community, and your planet. Learning about food production, preparation, and nutrition helps you to put your values into action with each meal.
Bring food literacy in the classroom
- Eat Well and Be Active Educational Toolkit (Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada)
- FoodSpan Curriculum (Johns Hopkins Centre for a Liveable Future)
- “Potential School Garden Curriculum Outcomes” (NB Food Security Action Network)
- Un jardin pour chaque enfant
- Guide pédagogique pour le préscolaire et le primaire
What is your school doing to promote food literacy?
Share your stories! #OurFoodAction
Explore connections between food and health
- Fact Sheets (PROOF Food Insecurity Policy Research)
- New Brunswick Public Health Nutrition Framework for Action (Province of New Brunswick)
- “Nourishing Food, Nourishing Knowledge: Report on the Forum on Food Security Among First Nations Communities in New Brunswick” (Canadian Feed the Children)
- Southeast NB Diet and Weight ‘Quick’ Snapshot (NB Food Security Action Network)
Help make healthy food a priority in our schools
- “A Study of Food Literacy” (Food Secure Canada / Food Literacy for Life)
- Current School Food Initiatives (NB Food Security Action Network)
- “Healthier Eating and Nutrition in Public Schools: A Handbook for Policy 711” (Department of Education, Province of New Brunswick)
- Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health
- Le réseau des cafétérias communautaires Inc. (District scolaire francophone Sud)
- “Where to Eat in New Brunswick Schools” (Make Menus Matter / New Brunswick Medical Society)
Recognize food as a social justice issue
- “Aboriginal Food Insecurity in Canada” (Food Secure Canada)
- “Canada’s Prison Farms Redux” (Marc Montgomery, Radio Canada International)
- “Community Food Security” (Dieticians of Canada)
- “Food Security and Insecurity in New Brunswick: Portrait, Challenges, and Perspectives” (ICRML / CIRLM)
- “HungerCount 2016” (Food Banks Canada)
- Til The Cows Come Home (prison farms film from Milkpail Productions)
Connecting
Food is a central part of our social lives, in ways that go far beyond the dinner table! Communities are stronger and healthier when we work together to share resources or experiences, to support people in need, and to raise awareness about the food system. Check out the resources in this section for ideas about how to get active and involved.
Lead and organize in your community
- Become a Community Food Mentor!
- Bulk Buying Club Best Practices (Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Community Garden Best Practices Toolkit (NB Food Security Action Network)
- Community Kitchen Best Practices Toolkit (NB Food Security Action Network)
- “Evaluating Outcomes of Community Food Actions: A Guide” (Public Health Agency of Canada)
- Food Security (Public Health Agency of Canada Best Practices Portal)
- “Making the Measure: A Toolkit for Tracking the Outcomes of Community Gardens and Urban Farms” (Philip Silva, The Nature of Cities)
Digging In
Growing or gleaning your own food gives you a new perspective on food production, and can help you to forge deeper connections with your environment and your community. You’ll also be boosting your diet with fresh, sustainable, affordable ingredients—and with a new sense of creativity and pride.
Changing the Rules
Citizens who support the Food Pledge value community wellness, social justice, and environmental sustainability. You can put those values into action through your individual choices—but you can also make a difference by learning about food policy and advocating for changes that are important to you. Being informed about food policy is key to making wise decisions, whether you’re acting as a consumer, producer, worker, or leader. Get started with the resources here!
Learn about existing food policy
- Buy New Brunswick Initiative (Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Province of New Brunswick)
- A Food Policy for Canada
- Farm Land Identification Program (Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Province of New Brunswick)
- Food and Nutrition Policies (Health Canada)
- “New Brunswick’s Wellness Strategy, 2014-21” (Social Development, Province of New Brunswick)
- “Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan, 2014-19 (Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation / Province of New Brunswick)
- Healthy Eating Strategy
Get inspired by food-focused advocacy and innovation
- “A People’s Food Policy for Canada” (Food Secure Canada)
- Conserving New Brunswick’s Working Lands (New Brunswick Community Land Trust)
- Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (British Columbia Association of Farmers’ Markets)
- “Feeding Our Future” (Toronto District School Board)
- Kids Eat Smart Foundation, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Second Harvest Food Rescue
- “Within Reach: A National School Food Program” (Food Secure Canada)
- Five Big Ideas for a Better Food System (Food Secure Canada)
Visiting
Let the Food Pledge inspire you on culinary adventures around your province! Your New Brunswick experience will be transformed when you focus on fresh, local food. Whether you’re choosing an innovative new restaurant for a business lunch or planning a holiday around your favorite food festival, you’ll be delighted by our distinctive cuisine and culture.
Starting a Business
Take your passion for food to the next level. Entrepreneurs in agriculture and food production make tremendous contributions to local communities and economies—and they’re key players in reimagining our food system. Choose your next steps with the resources in this section!
Learn about the potential of value-added food
- Agriculture and Agri-food Production in Atlantic Canada (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
- Canada’s Smartest Kitchen (Culinary Institute of Canada at Holland College)
- Case studies and success stories (Opportunities NB)
- “New Brunswick Value-Added Food Sector Strategy, 2012-16” (Province of New Brunswick)
Get help starting a new food business
- Application Guide – Food Premises License (Province of NB)
- Apprenticeship and Mentor Program (ACORN)
- Farmers’ Market Best Practices Toolkit (NB Food Security Action Network)
- “New Brunswick Guidelines for Food Premises at Public Markets (New Brunswick Department of Health)
- Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms
- Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC)
About #OurFoodAction
Choose your first Food Pledge adventure
Where will you begin?
- Plant a garden!
- Take a cooking class!
- Visit a farm!
- Attend a food festival!
- Join a CSA!
- Enjoy ugly food!
- Donate to my food center!
- Support local vendors!
- Love food!
Connect with our partners
The Ecology Action Centre
The New Brunswick Food Security Action Network
