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Criticism follows release of Canada's new Food Guide

Criticism follows release of Canada's Food Guide Release of the 2019 Canada's Food Guide has been followed by many opinion pieces and press releases from the food industry, healthcare professionals and the public on what should, or should not have be
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Criticism follows release of Canada's Food Guide

Release of the 2019 Canada's Food Guide has been followed by many opinion pieces and press releases from the food industry, healthcare professionals and the public on what should, or should not have been included.

There have been a few common themes in criticising the new Food Guide including that it does not provide specific-enough recommendations, it does not take into account the individual needs of all Canadians and it is not culturally and socially inclusive.

One unmentioned point in each opinion piece I read was in regards to the public consultations. Health Canada held several public consultations to gain feedback on what's most important to Canadians when it comes to diet, nutrition and health. Although some seem quick to criticize the new Food Guide, I have not seen any mention of their suggestions being disregarded in these open forums; possibly because those who are criticizing did not participate. The reports from these consultations can be found at www.canada.ca by searching "Canada's Food Guide Consultation".

There have also been several misconceptions regarding the new Food Guide including that a dinner plate is replacing the rainbow and dairy has been eliminated as a component of a healthy diet. While the rainbow visual has been removed, it has not necessarily been replaced. The new Food Guide includes food photography and a picture of a plate which depicts real foods divided into three portions to represent examples of the foods that can be eaten in a day. The plate is not meant to be the Food Guide, only a representation of the variety of foods that can be eaten in a day. You don't need to eat every item on that plate, every day.

The 2019 Food Guide has also not eliminated dairy, but has included it into the newly-named "protein foods" category. It's important to keep in mind that the previous Food Guide was developed in 2007 and in the 12 years since, a wealth of evidence has shown the benefits of a plant-based diet and plant-based proteins. Still, dairy can be a part of a healthy diet and does not need to be eliminated from the diet for most people.

So why have so many "experts" been quick to criticize? It may be because we live in a diet-focused culture in which anyone can call themselves an expert in nutrition as long as they have internet access. Food and diet are personal and polarizing topics and those with more extreme views are often the ones with the loudest voice.

The Food Guide is not meant to provide a meal plan for the perfect diet. The Guide is just that, a guide, to help you develop the skills and behaviours that are important to having a healthy diet and a healthy relationship with food.

One common question I receive from patients when providing diet education is: "Can you just tell me what to eat?" There are multiple reasons why I, and many other Dietitians, will not provide meals plans and instead choose to work with patients in developing the skills and knowledge required for them to be independent, active participants in their own health.

Meal plans do not encourage an individual to gain the knowledge and skills they need to make the best choices for themselves. Likewise, the new Food Guide, unlike the previous version, does not provide meal plans, instead focusing on behaviour change and knowledge development.

In reading many critiques of the Food Guide, it seems evident that it would have been impossible for the Guide to appease all. One columnist wrote how the Food Guide lacks innovation by encouraging Canadians to "cook, eat with other people, and consider water as their drink of choice" and is "quite condescending, with trite advice only an idealistic health professional would give 'Enjoy your food,' or, 'Be mindful of eating habits,' or the patronizing, 'Be aware of food marketing,'". Dietary advice and guidance does not need to be provocative to be valuable and recommendations do not need to be overcomplicated to be helpful. Behaviours and developed habits contribute to a healthy diet and lifestyle far more than restrictive meal plans.

Kelsey Leckovic is a Registered Dietitian with Northern Health working in chronic disease management.