My Thoughts On Canada's New Food Guide

The new Canada’s food guide is now more than ‘just about the food we eat’ and I feel it deserves some respect for the progress that it has made.

The food guide has come a long way since it was last updated and personally, I’m pleased with the changes and hopeful that even more positive changes will continue to be made.

Historically, Canada’s Food Guide was heavily influenced by the Industry Lobby and was something that many nutritionists (including myself) felt we had to work against.

Now with the recent changes to the food guide, it feels like we’re getting much closer to being on the same page.

Previously, our food guides haven’t done a whole lot to improve eating behaviour.

Our Country is eating more junk food and processed foods than ever, and our food guide didn’t help with that.

Canada’s new food guide was just released last week, and it’s different than any of its previous versions.

I feel there is still progress to be made, including more of an emphasis on healthy fats, since they are essential to our health and well being, so I encourage you to always do your own research and empower yourself and your family with education.  

That being said, these are the changes that I'm pleased to see in Canada’s new Food Guide:

1. They listened to feedback and had the right objective

• With this new food guide, Health Canada took feedback from citizens and used it to create the new version. 
• They put citizens over industry profits. As a nutrition professional, who is also Canadian, it’s refreshing that the food industry was not invited to the table to shape Canada’s new food guide. I believe that a lot of the food industry will be very upset about this, however, I’m happy to see that the government put the health of Canadians first. 
• These changes will affect our schools and hospitals. I'm hopeful to see the changes over the next few years, where the recommended beverage of choice will now be water, instead of juice or chocolate milk (both of which are known to promote tooth decay and contribute to diabetes).

2. It includes help with changing eating behaviours
There are many other factors that we know affect people’s food choices and the new food guide offers helpful tips that were previously not included.

Things like the following healthy eating habits:

• Be mindful of your eating habits
• Cook more often
• Enjoy your food
• Eat meals with others
• Use food labels
• Limit foods high in sugars, sodium, and saturated fat
• Be aware of food marketing

These are all things that us nutritional professionals teach on a regular basis, so it’s so nice to see our country’s food guide now reinforcing what we’ve been teaching for years.  

3. It is simpler and more practical to implement
The new guide focuses on an overall healthier pattern of eating, instead of specific servings (this is easier for us since we don’t carry around measuring cups with us.)

The new focus is so simple. It says at meals to aim for:

50% fruit/vegetable,
25% whole grains, and
25% protein (dairy, meat, and alternatives)

* As a personal note, I would really like to see an emphasis on healthy fats, which right now, are only touched on when you tab to the second page.

They’ve also included a “Tips” button which includes helpful topics such as:

1. Meal planning, cooking and healthy choices
2. Healthy eating anywhere
3. Life stages

I have a question for you. Do you feel it will be challenging for you to aim for half of your plate being fruits and vegetables?

Do you know that only 1% of North Americans are eating the required fruits and veggies each day that are required for healthy living?

Now, I eat healthy and I do my best to eat as many whole, real, unprocessed fruits & veggies every day.

To be honest though, there are many meals where fruits and veggies do not fill half my plate, as much as I want them to.  

Even as a holistic nutritionist, I don’t always get as much as I know I should. Also, as a creature of habit, I often get caught up eating the same foods, each and every day and therefore don’t always get the variety of foods I know I should.

Plus, each and every day is different. As a super busy mom on the run with owning my own business, some days I fill my tummy with loads of nutrient & antioxidant rich foods, and some days, not so much. And some days more treats enter my day. We're all human and it happens.

Does this sound familiar to you?

This is why my family and I take Juice Plus. By taking 3 capsules, each morning and night, I know we are getting 30+ whole fruits, veggies and antioxidant and phytonutrient-rich foods, every single day, regardless of how busy I am or how much my lunch is lacking in nutrients on a particular day. 

​Quite simply put, they 'Bridge the gap between what we do eat and what we should eat.'

The best part about all of this is that, not only do I get this awesome boost of nutrition every day, but my son does too....for FREE as part of the Healthy Starts For Families Program. 

Before I go further, I want to specify that this is is no way meant to replace healthy eating or be used an excuse to eat junk food. Research actually shows that over 60% of families eat MORE fruits and vegetables and have increased other healthy behaviours after taking Juice Plus. 

If you would like the added insurance of adding 20-30 whole fruits and veggies to your diet each day, send me a message HERE and I will help you get started and I will ensure your child (or grandchild, relative) gets theirs for FREE. 

As always, I would love to hear your comments. Let me know what you think about the new food guide!

Until next time,

​May Anne
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