Congratulations to the grand prize winner of the Healthy Families BC contest, Holly McLennan of Pitt Meadows! Along with many other British Columbians, she took easy steps toward a healthier lifestyle by registering with Healthy Families BC.

McLennan has won the grand prize of groceries for an entire year. That's $5,000 worth of groceries to make healthier food choices the easier ones. The McLennan family will also benefit from services by registered dietitian Danielle Van Schaick, who will provide family-friendly recipes and a full grocery list to make shopping easier.

Van Schaick will provide an hour long nutrition consultation to the McLennan family. Based on this consultation, she will develop a seven-day meal plan. These meal plans will take into consideration each person's health and weight goals, individual calorie and daily nutrient needs and personal food preferences and lifestyle. Free groceries and appropriate meal planning will go a long way to helping Holly and family eat healthier and live happier lives.

Chronic disease - such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer - is the largest single burden on the health of British Columbians. Healthy Families BC is the province's health promotion and prevention strategy. It is focused on reducing chronic diseases and promoting healthy weights in the province through healthy eating and physical activity. The strategy will see the implementation of a variety of healthy living programs to improve health and promote wellness in every part of the province.

You can still register with the Healthy Families BC online community and explore the many benefits the site has to offer. Here you'll find a wide range of healthy living resources from recipes to videos to blogs by registered dietitians and so much more.

Quick Facts:

• Chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease are the largest causes of death and disability in British Columbia.
• Healthy living can improve the longevity and quality of life for many British Columbians.
• Evidence shows that if we are physically active, achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, enjoy a healthy diet, and refrain from smoking, we can reduce our risk factors for most chronic diseases by up to 80 per cent.

Learn More:

You can still become part of Healthy Families BC Online Community by visiting: healthyfamiliesbc.ca/communities/register.

Media Contact:

Ministry of Health Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)