RECIPE FOR HEALTH
Welcoming March as the month of good nutrition
March is the month of change — spring officially arrives on the 20th, and it's Nutrition Month, which means Canadians will be taking stock of what's in their fridge, on their plates, and in the changes to their nutritional health. This year is particularly special, given the extraordinary circumstances we continue to navigate.
The pandemic has forced people to shop differently, as well as re-energize their cooking and baking skills.
Yet, many Canadians struggle to navigate the healthy eating landscape with this one question: Is this recipe good for me?
You'd be surprised to learn it's the most common questions Canadian dietitians get from their clients. Which makes it the focus of this year's Dietitians of Canada's Nutrition Month campaign: Good For You — dietitians help you find your healthy.
“As dietitians, our role has less to do with instructing, and more to do with listening. Rather than telling our clients what they need to do in order to achieve the `ideal' health standard, we help them find their healthy,” says dietitian and spokesperson Julia Liber in a recent release from a professional association whose mandate is to advance health through food, nutrition and advocacy.
As well, COVID-19 has put everyone's nutritional concerns under the magnifying glass: “As dietitians, we are seeing that people have become more concerned about their nutrition during the pandemic, and want to improve their food shopping and preparation skills,” adds Alberta-based registered dietitian and nutrition educator Susan Klaver, in a recent interview.
“Canadians are buying more food in grocery stores, yet more food is being wasted during the pandemic — often because food has been left in the fridge or freezer too long due to poor food planning skills ... this highlights the need for more reliable food and nutrition education sources in Canada.”
Klaver says the pandemic has also “taken a toll on mental health, and sent many struggling to find a new balance in life, work, homeschooling, family schedules, and eating. Many are still scrambling to manage sudden changes.” And then there's the whole issue of weight gain brought on by pandemic eating as well as less movement from working in a home office.
Of greatest concern, adds Klaver, is the alarming surge in numbers of teens and young adults needing help for eating disorders.
“Health conditions have become more challenging,” particularly in this area.
“Healthy eating looks different for everyone, shaped by factors like culture, dietary restrictions, religious beliefs, food preferences, cooking skills, nutritional needs, and life stages,” says Klaver. “Dietitians take up on the challenge to help to people `find their healthy.'”
Check out Dietitians of Canada (dietitians.ca) for more details; nutritionmonth2021.ca.; cookspiration.com.