Government

Community Nutrition Program

Published date: January 18, 2024
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The Community Nutrition Program offers nutrition guidance for people who are pregnant and provides feeding and nutritional support and advice for new parents after their baby is born. 

The program also supports community hospitals and long-term care facilities in rural areas (e.g., Souris, O’Leary, and Alberton), and serves outpatients in these communities.

Nutrition education and support are available online, by telephone, and in person.

How can community nutrition services help my family? 

Community dietitians are available to answer questions on healthy eating for mothers or children. To speak to a registered dietitian, call 1-877-887-0320 (toll-free) or email publichealthnutrition@gov.pe.ca.

Services during pregnancy

Registered dietitians offer nutrition assessment and counselling to promote a healthy pregnancy. Your dietitian may recommend you take vitamin and mineral supplements while adding specific foods to your diet. 

Nutritional supplements

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, your dietitian may be able to provide you with approved nutritional supplements at no cost to you. 

Examples of high-risk pregnancies include teen pregnancy, previous low birth weight baby, insufficient finances to purchase adequate food to support pregnancy, twin pregnancy, low or excessive weight gain, and inadequate diet.

Milk Ticket Support

Milk tickets are available for financially disadvantaged clients who are participating in regular prenatal nutrition counselling with their dietitians.

Breastfeeding mothers may continue to receive milk tickets for either six months postpartum or until breast milk is no longer the infant’s main source of nutrition, whichever occurs first.

Services for infants and toddlers

Community dietitians offer advice on healthy eating for new parents, guidance on infant feeding, and help to people experiencing challenges with breastfeeding. 

Dietitians can also offer community classes focused on how to feed toddlers and preschool children and address feeding challenges that might arise.

For more information or to register for the next class in your area, contact the Community Nutrition Program. 

Services for families with children ages 5 to 10

Parents who have a child who is overweight or obese or who may want to promote a healthier, more active lifestyle for their children can enroll in the  Lifestyle Triple P Parenting Program

Services in the community

Dietitians work with organizations and community groups to support healthy eating for children and youth, and to promote healthy lifestyle messages.

How do I get nutrition support? 

Contact the Community Nutrition program:

Phone:  1-877-887-0320 (toll-free)

Email:  publichealthnutrition@gov.pe.ca

Alberton

Western Hospital

148 Poplar Street

Alberton, PE   C0B 1B0

Telephone: 902-853-2940

Fax: 902-853-8651

Charlottetown

Sherwood Business Centre

161 St. Peters Road

Charlottetown, PE   C1A 7N8

Telephone: 902-620-3916

Fax:  902-620-3917 

O’Leary

Community Hospital

14 MacKinnon Drive

O'Leary, PE   C0B 1V0

Telephone: 902-859-8723

Fax: 902-859-8701 

Montague

126 Douses Road

Montague, PE   C0A 1R0

Telephone: 902-838-0719

Fax:  902-838-0803 

Souris

Souris Hospital

17 Knights Avenue

Souris, PE   C0A 2B0

Telephone: 902-687-7051

Fax:  902-687-7048 

Summerside

205 Linden Avenue

Summerside, PE   C1N 2K4

Telephone:  902-888-8160

Fax:  902-888-8153