What This Dietitian Thinks of the New Food Guide
Health Canada released Canada’s new Food Guide a couple of weeks ago, and I’m happy to report that it has been getting nothing but positive feedback from health professionals, including dietitians.
Dietitians have always been associated with Canada’s Food Guide - probably because we are tested on it in school and forced to memorize the different serving sizes and what foods fall into which food group. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked whether eggs fall under the ‘meat and meat alternatives’ food group or the ‘dairy’ food group, and really, who cares? I didn’t!
The old Food Guide never resonated with me as a dietitian, and I found myself being a rebel in my profession by throwing it under the bus more than once. Why are we recommending so many grains? These serving sizes are unnecessarily confusing! Margarine? Really? And not once, in my practice, did I use the Food Guide as an educational tool.
I was excited about the prospect of a new Food Guide, but deep down I was concerned that the new guide would already be out-of-date by the time it was released. Leaving me a forever rebel and continuing to recommend my age-old plate method when talking about portion sizes and promoting whole foods over processed foods. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the new Food Guide took the words right out of my mouth.
As a plant-loving dietitian I love the emphasis on plant-based foods, whole foods, drinking more water and promoting heart healthy fats. Besides educating the public on what to eat, the new Food Guide also mentions how to eat - cook more often with family and try eating more mindfully. I love this! So, what does this dietitian think of the new Food Guide? She’s loving it!
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