Resources to Eat Right When Money's Tight

Not everyone can always get the food they need easily. Whether you always struggle to pay your bills or it’s just a bad month, not having enough money is a real challenge that can get in the way of healthy eating.

Food insecurity means a household lacks the funds or other resources to buy enough food to live healthy, active lives. This can happen to people for different reasons. Unemployment, job loss, not making enough money, lack of availability, or being disabled can all contribute to food insecurity.

Food insecurity is a health issue. Not having enough money for food puts us at risk of hunger and malnourishment. When money is tight, we may also be more likely to buy less nutritious foods to stretch our budgets further.

Not having enough money for food can happen to anyone at any time. Don’t feel ashamed if this happens to you. There are programs and people that can help. Your coach is one person you can reach out to, to help point you in the right direction.

These websites and programs can also be valuable resources:

1. Food Banks Canada: Use the Find a Food Bank tool to search for a food bank in your community.

2. ICNA Relief Canada: Find a Food Bank near you for those who are in need due to unemployment or the inability to find jobs after immigrating to Canada.

Alberta

• The Calgary Food Bank
• Edmonton's Food Bank
• Food Banks Alberta
• Alberta Food Banks

British Columbia

• Greater Vancouver Food Bank
• Food Banks BC

Manitoba

• Harvest Manitoba
• Main Street Project
• Samaritan House
• U of M Food Bank

New Brunswick

• NB Food Banks
• Food For All NB
• Sackville Food Bank
• Vestiaire Food Bank
• Second Mile FoodBank

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Bridges To Hope
• Food First NL
• Community Food Sharing
• Campus Food Bank | Memorial University of Newfoundland

Northwest Territories

• Arctic Food Bank
• Food Bank - Salvation Army NWT
• Food First Foundation

Nova Scotia

• Feed Nova Scotia
• Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank
• Pictou County Food Bank East
• Brunswick Street Mission
• YMCA of Greater Halifax and Dartmouth
• Food Bank — Dalhousie Student Union

Nunavut

• Niqinik Nuatsivik Nunavut Food Bank
• Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre
• Arctic Food Bank

Ontario

• Feed Ontario
• Daily Bread
• Food Banks Mississauga
• Ottawa Food Bank
• Food Bank of Waterloo Region
• Community Food Programs - Toronto Central
• Seva Food Bank
• Feed The Need in Durham
• Burlington Food Bank
• Barrie Food Bank
• London Food Bank
• Food Bank of York Region
• Trenton Food Bank
• Community Food Programs - Central West
• North York Harvest Food Bank
• Aurora Food Pantry
• Yonge Street Mission

Prince Edward Island

• The Upper Room & PEI Food Banks

Quebec

• Food Banks of Quebec
• Moisson Québec
• 211 Grand Montréal

Saskatchewan

• Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre
• Food Banks of Saskatchewan
• Regina Foodbank

Yukon

• Whitehorse Food Bank
• Dawson Food Bank
• Yukon Food Security Programs

 

Remember, taking steps to get the food you need is an important part of staying healthy.

Here are a few resources that can also help:

• Quick and Healthy Budget-Friendly Meals
• The Guide to Healthy Eating on a Budget