A Dietitian with Southern Health says the new Canadian Food Guide is a positive step in the right direction.

The new guide takes out the system of the four distinct food groups and required daily portions. Hanifah Hussain says it now encourages people to have a balanced diet with a variety of foods from different cultures because she adds different foods have different nutrients that are good for our bodies.

"When we have variety we can tackle chronic diseases in a totally different way," she says, "things like heart disease, they're better managed when we look at things like plant-based proteins and getting more fibre and less fat."

Hussain specifies the new food guide still has dairy products and meat in it which she says are also part of a healthy diet.

"It really talks to balancing your plate which I think the old food guide didn't really get to very well."

Hussain adds you can't really tell someone they are full or hungry based on a certain number of portions that are recommended in a day. She explains that is something people need to figure out themselves and listen to when your body says you are full.

"Every day is going to be different even for that one person," Hussain notes. "If you're more active, you might have a bigger appetite compared to a day maybe when you're not. So your appetite is going to definitely change from day to day or even time of the day."

Hussain says this is nothing new as they have already been teaching this for some time now. She getting the food guide into schools is key to educating kids about the importance of a healthy balanced diet