Take the Fight Out of Food. Whether the ‘food fight’ is with themselves or with others, dietitians want to remind Canadians that eating should be joyful, not a source of everyday frustration and confusion! Throughout March, dietitians across Canada will host events in their communities, on social media and in their workplaces to help Canadians improve their relationship with food, no matter what the struggle.
“Food fights like feeling bloated after every meal or struggling with a picky eater are common and unfortunately, so is running to search for an answer on the internet,” says Emily Mardell, registered dietitian and Nutrition Month Spokesperson from Alberta. Almost half (49 per cent) of Canadians turn to the internet when looking for answers about what foods are best for them and their families, according to the 2015 Tracking Nutrition Trends survey. “Canadians are inundated with nutrition information online, and the problem is that not all online advice comes from a credible source. Knowing where to look and who to rely on can save a lot of time, energy and frustration.”
Contact centre dietitians at Eat Right Ontario and HealthLink BC revealed that Canadians struggle with five common ‘food fights’, including:
- Food Fads: How do I know which nutrition information to trust?
- Digestive Woes: What’s causing all this gas?
- Picky Eating: Why is family mealtime such mayhem?
- Eating and Stress: Why do I always turn to food when I’m stressed?
- Managing a Condition (e.g. diabetes): How can I manage my diabetes?
This Nutrition Month, dietitians across Canada will ease frustrations and close this knowledge gap by teaching Canadians how to overcome their food fights with a simple three-step approach – spot the problem, get the facts and seek support.
With accurate information and a good support system, Canadians will be better equipped to make decisions about food, without the fight.
Join Canadians this Nutrition Month and pledge to Take the Fight out of Food at www.NutritionMonth2017.ca. On the website you can also find tips, recipes and ideas to win your food fight as well as more information about how you can get involved in Nutrition Month 2017 and download the Dietitians of Canada’s free recipe app Cookspiration.