Let's keep learning about the right foods to eat
Posted 09-08-2015 at 07:32 AM by DavidRaonic
Childhood hunger affects one in six Canadian children and according to a report by the Conference Board of Canada, food illiteracy is one of the leading causes.
Without knowing how to interpret nutritional information or identify the foods that make up a healthy diet, families may struggle to provide the nutrients young children require. With a legacy of unhealthy eating, teenagers may also find themselves unequipped to make their own shopping decisions as they begin to move away from home. Changes, however, are underway.
“Businesses, governments, and communities should help food-insecure people make the best possible food choices with their financial resources,” the study points out. “To that end, governments and industries should increase their efforts to educate everyone about healthy eating, and give them tools to acquire fresh and healthy produce affordably.”
The good news is those efforts are increasing on numerous fronts. Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada programs like Eat Well, Be Active and Focus on the Facts continue to generate educational resources for students and teach consumers about how to identify healthy products in the grocery store.
Industries have been doing their part too. Recently Loblaw partnered with food nutrition programs through their Healthy Kids grants to provide both food literacy education and nutritious meals to children across Canada. ProAction's Cooking with Cops program, one of the beneficiaries, pairs police officers with at-risk youth for lessons in how to shop for and prepare healthy meals.
“Many of the kids we work with come from low income homes. With limited resources and educational opportunities, these families have challenges affording and identifying healthy food choices,” says Jean Milligan, executive director, of ProAction Cops & Kids. “Thanks to funding from local grocery stores like Loblaw, we're able to position kids to make grocery shopping decisions that will benefit their entire family.”
Without knowing how to interpret nutritional information or identify the foods that make up a healthy diet, families may struggle to provide the nutrients young children require. With a legacy of unhealthy eating, teenagers may also find themselves unequipped to make their own shopping decisions as they begin to move away from home. Changes, however, are underway.
“Businesses, governments, and communities should help food-insecure people make the best possible food choices with their financial resources,” the study points out. “To that end, governments and industries should increase their efforts to educate everyone about healthy eating, and give them tools to acquire fresh and healthy produce affordably.”
The good news is those efforts are increasing on numerous fronts. Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada programs like Eat Well, Be Active and Focus on the Facts continue to generate educational resources for students and teach consumers about how to identify healthy products in the grocery store.
Industries have been doing their part too. Recently Loblaw partnered with food nutrition programs through their Healthy Kids grants to provide both food literacy education and nutritious meals to children across Canada. ProAction's Cooking with Cops program, one of the beneficiaries, pairs police officers with at-risk youth for lessons in how to shop for and prepare healthy meals.
“Many of the kids we work with come from low income homes. With limited resources and educational opportunities, these families have challenges affording and identifying healthy food choices,” says Jean Milligan, executive director, of ProAction Cops & Kids. “Thanks to funding from local grocery stores like Loblaw, we're able to position kids to make grocery shopping decisions that will benefit their entire family.”
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