Choosing foods that are grown close to home is a great commitment to our environment and our economy, but it does have its challenges during Canadian winters.

The Bull's-eye Diet is a practical way to eat as much local food as you can, while supplementing with other foods as needed.

The Bull's-eye model thinks of food sources as a dartboard. Each 'ring' of the dartboard represents a geographical region. The centre of the dartboard (or bull's-eye) represents foods grown close to home and as you move farther away from the centre of the bull's-eye, the foods are grown farther away from you.

The goal is to choose as many foods as you can that are grown as geographically as close to you as possible, then getting other items such as coffee, olive oil or spices from farther away.

What's grown in Canada that you can choose?

Blueberries, apples: are grown all over Canada with BC, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec growing the largest quantities.

Wheat: Saskatchewan and Alberta grow the largest quantity of wheat in the country.

Milk and alternatives: milk, yogurt and cheese are made right here in Canada, with Ontario and Quebec having the most dairy farms.

Meat and alternatives: beef, lamb, bison, venison, chickens, eggs and pluses – including lentils, chickpeas and dried peas and beans are all produced in Canada.

Freezing or canning vegetables and fruit while they are available in the summer is one way that helps you eat locally in the winter months.

For help making simple and effective changes in your nutrition plan, call the Health Centre at 403-329-2484 to book an individual nutrition consultation with Diane Britton. Initial sessions are $40 for university students and employees.

Diane Britton is the registered dietitian at the University of Lethbridge

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