Town council hears how municipalities can affect healthy food systems
Morgan Palmer understands maintaining a healthy lifestyle is about small, sustainable changes.
Palmer, a healthy eating program officer with the Department of Health and Wellness and registered dietician candidate, recently gave a presentation to Kensington Town Council about what municipalities can do to promote healthy living.
“Most communities start with a community food assessment,” which is designed to bring stakeholders in the community together to prioritize healthy eating, said Palmer.
“Everybody should be at the table and be champions of healthy food environments.”
In her presentation she outlined P.E.I.’s wellness strategy.
“The goal is to increase healthy eating behaviours of Islanders. The priorities are to enhance existing and develop new healthy living policies, improve opportunity to access healthy choices at recreational facilities… and develop baby friendly policies that create supportive environments for breastfeeding.”
But what can municipalities do to ensure a healthy food environment?
Food policy councils are an option.
“There are different models with varying levels of government representation and funding. It opens discussion about food issues and creates opportunities for food system collaboration across sectors and rural/urban divides.”
Palmer asked councillors, “What do you think drives food choices?”
Councillors chimed in listing time, availability, expediency and cost as factors.
“All of that is true. We know people make food choices based on the individual and their interactions with family and friends. But their choices are also shaped by locations, communities and food policy.”
But leading a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about encouraging fruits and vegetables and eliminating junk food.
“It’s so much more than that. You don’t have to take away a specific kind of food to be healthy,” said Palmer. “You can still have things that don’t seem that nutritious but then you can have the vegetables and fruit as well.”