When you think about what food goes on your plate, you might not be thinking about the most recent version of the Canadian Food Guide. Many people may not have even looked at the guide since first learning about it in elementary or high school. But the guide has seen some big changes over the years.
At the request of seniors living in Bristol for updated information on healthy eating, the Municipality of Bristol’s healthy living committee invited nutrition expert France Ladouceur to the Jack Graham Community Centre to give a presentation on Saturday morning.
Ladouceur is a registered dietician and nutritionist at the Pontiac Community Hospital. She presented and answered questions from Bristol residents about healthy eating for seniors. One of her big pieces of advice was that you should eat the things you like.
“I would never tell my clients at the hospital to choose something they don’t like,” Ladouceur said. “There are just some foods that have more benefits.”
One of the big changes to the Canadian Food Guide is a shift from four distinct food groups to a balanced plate model. Ladouceur explained that at each meal, your plate should be half full of fruits or vegetables, a quarter full of grains or starches and a quarter full of protein.
“The goal isn’t to have two colours of vegetables, it’s just about having some vegetables,” Ladouceur said.
“It’s less about the four food groups and more about having a balanced plate.”
Ladouceur also recommended that before making changes to your diet, that you check with a doctor. She said that some changes to diet could impact medication or preexisting conditions.
“High protein diets are the trend,” Ladouceur said. “But you have to be aware of medical issues or conditions because these types of diets might not be healthy for you, so talk to a professional first.”
Ladouceur also emphasized the importance of proper hydration, which means getting six to eight cups of water every day.
She encouraged talking to your doctor about taking supplements if you don’t get enough calcium, Vitamins D, B12 and B6, Omega 3 and iron, explaining these vitamins can improve bone health and in turn, reduce falls, and can reduce inflammation, having a positive impact on arthritis.
Bristol councillor Valerie Twolan-Graham, also chair of the municipality’s healthy living committee, said this wasn’t the first time residents had requested information about healthy eating.
“It’s been a repeating request, which I think is just fantastic,” she said.
“In this area, you don’t have as many options at your fingertips. You have to drive everywhere to do something. There are a lot of healthy tips.”
