Whichever holidays you’re celebrating this season, don’t let food poisoning spoil them. Here are 6 lesser-known mistakes to avoid, especially if you’re at high-risk – that is, over 65 or under 5, pregnant or have a weakened immune system.
Lifestyles
The Lifestyles Department: Nutrition Education
Increasingly, eating disorder, and child health experts stress that the current model of nutrition education encourages disordered thinking around eating. Pushing “healthy” foods can make children like them less; demonizing and forbidding “junk” foods may make children obsess about, hide and hoard these foods when old enough to get them on their own. Here are some tips to help rather than harm:
The Lifestyles Department: School Lunches
Submitted by Heather Dzioba MSc (Nutr), Registered Dietitian
September is here…it’s THAT time of year again! That time of year when parents are relieved to send their bored kids back to school, but dread packing lunches 5 days a week. It can be tricky to send meals that are allergy-friendly, don’t require heating and, to top it all off, appealing to your kids.
Here are some tips that may help ease you into the packing lunch routine:
RCC Kids Club Camp July 4 to July 8, 2022. (Ages 8 to 12)
This year’s Hawaiian themed camp was facilitated by the clinic’s counselors, registered dietitian, and exercise specialist. Children enjoyed games that included movement; preparing, cooking, and consuming recipes; making healthy food choices and learning healthy eating behaviours; and activities focused on mental health such as confidence-building, identifying and regulating emotions. The camp offered children in the community positive, educational, and enjoyable experiences that increase children’s self-esteem and overall physical and mental health. Single day camps will be offered during some PDOs during the 2022-23 school year.
What Do You Know About Weight Bias?
You probably have heard of different forms of social bias: racism, ageism, sexism…but you may not have considered another population that often is a target of discrimination. Weight bias refers to negative attitudes and views about obesity and towards people with obesity. Weight bias can lead to other negative consequences, such as stigma and discrimination. Weight stigma refers to stereotypes and misconceptions about people with obesity. Weight discrimination refers to the actions of treating people with obesity unfairly leading to inequities.
Exercise & its Mental Health Benefits
Have you been spending too much time overthinking? Have you been dealing with education or work-related stress? Have you had the desire to exercise but struggled to find the motivation?
Going Vegetarian
Have you ever considered following a vegetarian diet but not sure if you can give up steak the rest of your life? There are many benefits to following a vegetarian eating plan, but it doesn’t always mean that you can’t eat ANY meat. Here are some definitions for different types of vegetarianism:
Vegetarian – generally a term for someone who does not eat any meat
Ovo-vegetarian – does not eat meat and dairy products but will eat eggs
Lacto–vegetarian – does not eat meat and eggs but will eat dairy products
Flexitarian or semi-vegetarian – eats mostly plant-based foods but may occasionally include meat, dairy, eggs, poultry, and fish in small amounts
Pescatarian – does not eat meat but will eat fish
Pollo–vegetarian – does not eat meat or fish but will eat chicken
Vegan – does not eat any animal products, including honey and gelatin
Take Care of Yourself Regardless of Your Energy Levels
Everyone is tired, physically and mentally/emotionally, from the pandemic on top of all our ‘normal’ day to day. We all manage it in different ways and thats ok. Taking care of ourselves is relatively easy when we sleep well and have high energy. But what about the days you have low and medium energy?
March is Nutrition Month!
The factors that influence your future health and the health of Canadians are challenging and complex. Dietitians value the importance of creating a healthier tomorrow by acting on the key ingredients needed today. Ingredients like healthy sustainable food choices, food skills, nutrition education, access to nutritious food, and disease prevention are important to dietitians and the work they do.
Here is a protein-packed recipe from dietitian, Joanne Gallagher:
February Heart Health Month
Since February is considered as the heart health month, it is time to bring attention to the importance of cardiovascular health and what we can do to reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease.