Benefit of Canada’s Dietary Guidelines

Benefit of Canada’s Dietary Guidelines

May 5, 2023

Joy Stepinski, MSN, RN-BC

In 2019, Canada unveiled a brand-new food guide [1] after a three-year process involving multiple discussion forums with stakeholders, including the Canadian public and healthcare professionals. The goal was to understand the needs and expectations of a food guide. Unlike the United States, policy development did not include meetings with the food and beverage industry. The goal of Health Canada was to develop recommendations without conflicts of interest.

In contrast, the United States promotes myplate.gov, which is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA was created to support farmers and ranchers [2], and then given the task of setting dietary guidelines. Unlike our northern neighbors, the USDA promotes National Strategic Partners who participate in an annual strategic nutrition promotion planning [3]. Partners include professional organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and businesses like Frito Lay, Lean Cuisine, National Dairy Council, Nestle, and a plethora of others. This presents as a major conflict of interest, which could undermine the very health of our nation.

Canada’s food guide is similarly depicted as a plate. Fruits and vegetables encompass half the plate, whole grains are designated as a quarter, and protein foods another quarter. Instead of milk, water is recommended as the beverage of choice. The schematic is a foundation for healthy eating because dietary choices lead to an eating pattern associated with positive health outcomes.

The guide also notably states that “healthy eating is more than the foods you eat.” It encompasses being mindful of eating and alcohol habits, staying physically active, limiting processed foods, cooking more often, enjoying food, and eating meals with others. While Canada’s guidelines may not be perfect, this is a huge step in health promotion by a nation. The Canadian Dietary Guidelines are worth reading!

References:

1.       Government of Canada. (2022). Canada’s dietary guidelines. https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/guidelines/

2.       USDA. (n.d.) Research and Science. https://www.usda.gov/topics/research-and-science

3.       USDA. (n.d.). National Strategic Partners. https://www.myplate.gov/professionals/partner-us/national-strategic-partners