More Canadian Food Information

Unique Canadian food items may pose a challenge for the registered nurse trying to obtain a nursing license in Canada.

The Canadian Registered Nurse Exam will use common food items from a Canadian menu to test nursing knowledge of food and nutrition.

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The following list of foods are uniquely Canadian so unless you live in Canada you may not have heard of these foods before, or it may be a food item you are familiar with but you are not familiar with the Canadian name.

• Bannock - a flat unleavened bread that is baked on a griddle. It is believed to have originated with the First Nations people but the Scots like to take credit for this too!


• Canadian bacon or back bacon - This cut of bacon has less fat than regular bacon and has a taste and texture similar to ham.

• Beavertails - named after the animal used as a national Canadian symbol, this pastry only looks like a beaver's tail. No beavers are actually killed in the making of these tasty treats! This is a fried, flat pastry, similar to the taste and texture of a donut. They can be topped with sugar, cinnamon, fruit, even cream cheese and salmon.


• Butter tarts -Originally brought to Canada by the Scots. These are like a little pecan pie without the pecans. Usually raisins or some other nut (typically walnuts) are added.


• Poutine - french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. Poutine has its origins in Quebec.


• Maple Syrup - a sweetener made from the sap of maple trees. It is mostly used as a topping for pancakes and waffles but can also be used as a sweetener in various recipes to give the distinct maple flavour. Nothing is more Canadian than something from a maple tree!

The maple tree is such a strong Canadian symbol we even have it on the flag.

Are you hungry yet? It just wouldn't be worthwhile to read about Canadian food if you didn't get a recipe!!

Enjoy this receipe for Nanaimo bars. They are named after a city in Canada.

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More information for the internationally educated nurse who wants to become a registered nurse in Canada

• More Canadian food and nutrition information.


• High potassium food


• Discussion of a low sodium diet


• Information about the Canadian Nutrition Label


• DASH diet