Who would know more about good eating than a dietician or nutritionist? Exactly. So when the Dietitians of Canada name March 2005 as "National Nutrition Month," we should probably pay extra attention. Their theme for the month is "Go the Healthy Way!"
Weight is one of the top nutrition concern for Canadians. For many, this translates to "dieting." Unfortunately, while a popular remedy, decades of research have shown that diets are ineffective for long-term health and weight control. The Nutrition Month campaign reminds us that healthy eating can be simple, and best of all, delicious. Eating well is about balanced eating, with getting the right amounts of the right foods every day.
In preparation for this year's events, the Dietitians of Canada conducted a poll to find out what people thought about healthy eating, active living and weight. They found that:
People find it easy to make healthy food choices when in controlled situations such as work or school. Lack of time and incentive to cook also present challenges to eating well.
An overwhelming percentage of respondents replied that the most important factors helping them decide if they had a healthy weight were how they felt and how their clothes fit.
Few felt driven by weight-for-height charts and tracking their weight on a scale.
The Nutrition Month campaign has its own website [www.dietitians.ca/english/] where you will find as much information as you could ask for. Three delightfully useful pieces are the "Go the Healthy Way" fact sheets: Every Step Counts; Keep an Eye on your Portion Size; and Great Food on the Move.
The sheet on portion size will be especially useful for many people.
These days, with the emphasis on "getting more for your money," many of us have lost sight of standard portion sizes. Eating large portion sizes can lead to overeating, resulting in overweight and obesity. But how big is a portion?Here is an example to consider: how much of your daily recommended "meat & alternatives" is contained in one quarter-pound burger? The Canada Food Guide to Healthy Eating (CFGHE) suggests 2-3 portions per day a quarter-pounder is good for two portions.
The CFGHE recommends 5-12 servings of grain products daily a serving is about half a baseball of pasta or rice; or a hockey puck's worth of bagel. Milk products (recommended 2-4 portions per day)? Try three dominoes' worth of cheese as one portion.Whether you feel you need to lose weight, or you consider yourself already fit and healthy, your best decisions on eating will come from the Canada Food Guide.
It's a great starting place to educate yourself about what to eat, how much to eat, and how to balance your nutrition to best help you be healthy.
Now, add a bit of activity every day and before you know it, you will be healthy, fit, strong and best of all, find you have a better life.
