The New Canada's Food Guide -2019 Version

     Most Fitness Trainers are not Registered Dietitians or Nutritionists.(Some Fitness Trainers may have the education to be Registered Dietitians or Nutritionists but most do not.) It is actually beyond the scope of most Trainers to push certain diets such as the Paleo or the Keto or the Atkins or intermittent fasting.  What they can do is to encourage sensible and healthy eating habits. For CanadianFitness Trainers this often involves giving the client a copy of Canada's Food Guide to assist in proper and safe energy consumption. 

    Canada's Food Guide is a pamphlet of dietary suggestions for daily eating behavior. The guide was established in 1942 during the Second World War to educate people on how to maximize their nutrient intake during a period of national food rationing.  It started out as the 'Official Food Rules' then morphed into 'Canada's Food Rules' and finally evolved into 'Canada's Food Guide'.
   The guide used to include four food groups.

1. Vegetables and Fruit
2. Grain (or rice) products
3. Milk and Alternatives
4. Meat and Alternatives

Foods that did not fall into the 4 categories were listed as 'other' foods. They were to be eaten sparingly. This included sugar, processed foods, alcohol and pop.
 Every updated version was a slight variation with the same 4 food groups. The dairy and meat lobbyists had the ear of Health Canada during each revision to the guide. Times seem to have changed.
   The revised guide divides the healthy plate into 3 sections;

1. Fruits and vegetables: Portion sized are not given, just to eat plenty of them.
2. Protein Foods: The old guide had meat and alternatives as the main suggestion. Now it can be meat or eggs or legumes, and other high protein seeds. Meat is not named as a required food. Milk would likely fall into this category but milk products are not mentioned.
3. Whole grain foods

          Water is suggested as the drink of choice. Processed foods, sugary drinks, (even fruit juices) and alcoholic beverages are to be used minimally if at all.

Canada's Food Guide - Revised for 2019: Don't think this made the cut.

   This diet appears to cover all of the angles to good health and arguably help save the environment.

•  Lacto-Vegetarians can still use dairy products. Vegans can easily adhere to the guide.

•  People with wheat allergies or Celiac disease can replace wheat products with rice products in the whole grain section.

• This is a great tool for Fitness Trainers to supply to their clients since exercise and diet work best in tandem.

• The meat lobbyists and the dairy farmers obviously feel slighted.  Some of the reasoning behind the new guide is that these industries use up resources that may be environmentally unsustainable in the future.  

   The reality is that apart from people in the health and profession, Canada's Food Guide is probably underutilized. Most restaurants don''t give it much heed. Families mostly stick to their traditional meal plans with meat, potatoes, vegetables, bread and dessert.. People who order "Skip the Dishes" instead of cooking are likely more interested in taste and satiety rather than food grouping. As for the fast food, take-out customers, do we really think that they are thinking of food guides? The meat and dairy industries will be in business for some time yet.

   My advice to Fitness Trainers is to use these new guidelines to your advantage. 
 Tonight I have a free evening. I intend to relax and fuel up with 4 major but neglected food groups: pizza, chicken wings, egg rolls and beer.

Until Next Time,  Keep Fit

Little Bobby Strong

Links

www.fitnwell.com

www.rabbitview.com