Nutrition Month

This March, York Region Public Health is celebrating Nutrition Month, focusing on the theme “Unlock the Potential of Food: Find a Dietitian”. Food gives us energy and enhances our overall health; but food is much more than nourishment and the choices we make can also impact our environment and carbon footprint.

Our food system - which includes the way food is grown, processed, transported, consumed and wasted - produces about 25% or more of global greenhouse gases and contributes to climate change. As experts in food and nutrition, Registered Dietitians support eating behaviours that protect the environment and promote optimal nutrition for our community.

On Wednesday, March 15 we will celebrate Dietitian’s Day, which recognizes Registered Dietitians (RD) as regulated health care professionals who are committed to using their specialized knowledge and skills to unlock food’s potential. Registered Dietitians are also the most trusted source for food and nutrition advice and information and can help us separate food facts from fiction.

York Region is fortunate to have dietitians working in a variety of areas including Public Health and Long-Term Care. They support the health and well-being of our residents and communities and help create healthy, sustainable food systems.

Building on Canada’s Food Guide, here are some dietitian-approved tips to improve our physical, mental, and planetary health:

Shift your diet to include more plant-based meals and snacks

• Compared to animal proteins, plant-based proteins usually use less land, energy and water to grow and produce
• Adding more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and plant-based proteins (e.g., beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and tofu) and eating fewer and varied meat-based meals and snacks per week is healthier for you and the environment
• When planning meals, aim for at least one meatless meal per week and then gradually increase. Here are some plant-based recipes to help you get you started: Lentil Shepherd’s Pie, Better Butter Chickpeas, Sweet Chili Tofu Stir-Fry, Quinoa and Vegetable Casserole.

Cut back the amount of highly processed foods

• Highly processed (also known as ultra-processed) foods and drinks are usually higher in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and additives and typically offer little nutritional benefit. Producing these foods also requires more resources and often uses packaging that adds to overall waste
• Try cooking at home more often – it is healthier and lets you choose what goes in your meals and how foods are prepared
• Read food labels and compare products – look for shorter lists made of familiar ingredients

Reduce food waste

• Not only does food waste cost money, but if it goes to the landfill, it generates greenhouse gases. Throwing food out also means we are wasting the water and energy resources that were used to grow, produce, transport, and distribute the food, further impacting our environment
• The goal is to prevent food from being wasted in the first place. York Region’s Good Food program provides tips and tools to help you get creative with leftovers, plan meals, save time and reduce food waste
• We realize that not all food waste can be avoided. Composting is a place for food you can’t eat like ends and peels of vegetables and fruit, plus your yard clippings. It makes a natural, nutrient-rich food for your soil, reduces the need for fertilizer and decreases greenhouse gas emissions by keeping your food waste out of the garbage

Make water your beverage of choice

• Drinking enough water is important for your health. York Region provides high-quality tap water that is safe, clean, and affordable
• Drinking tap water is a healthy, convenient, and environmentally friendly choice. Instead of reaching for a plastic water bottle, simply turn on the tap to quench your thirst

Want to connect with a dietitian?

Visit Health811 to chat with a Registered Dietitian for free or visit www.dietitians.ca/find to locate a dietitian in your area.

For more information on Nutrition Month visit nutritionmonth2023.ca