๐Canadaโs Food Guide got an upgrade last week and itโs pretty great!!๐
We went from recommended servings & 4 specific food groups to a simple healthy plate schematic. We also went from a guide heavily influenced by corporations within the food industry to a collaborative and more evidence-based guide that had some input from Naturopathic Doctors ๐.
I love these recommendations: โ cook more often ๐ โ limit processed foods & foods high in sugarโฆ eat REAL food! ๐๐ผ โ dairy is no longer considered a food group โ eat more plants! ๐ฅฌ๐ฅฆ โ 1/4 plate protein (meat and/or plant-based) โ water is the drink of choice ๐ง โ HOW you eat is important! โ eat meals with others & enjoy your meals ๐๐ผ โ be mindful of your eating habits by creating a healthy eating environment โ be aware of food marketing & use food labels (labels will be changing by 2020 ๐)
Some more things I would have liked to see: โข include healthy fats with each meal (like olive oil, avocado/avocado oil, coconut oil). Drizzle that plate with extra-virgin olive oil! ๐ โข ditch the canola oil, processed vegetable oils, and margarine ๐ โโ๏ธ โข eat more veggies than fruit (and fresh or frozen > canned!) ๐ฅฌ๐ฅฆ๐ฅ๐ฅ โข saturated fat is not associated with heart disease - this concept is outdated ๐คฆโโ๏ธ (more on this another day) โข real butter, ghee and coconut oil are not bad and are certainly more nutritious than margarine โข meat is not unhealthy, especially if it is well-sourced โข organic sources of food are ideal โข visit your local market & farms and shop local when you can!
Remember that although this is a major upgrade to our food guide, individualization and listening to your body is best! ๐ช๐ผ