RED DEER — Most Canadians know a food guide exists but it may not make much difference in their meal choices.
“What I am reading from this is the food guide is completely detached from our own reality as Canadians. That is a huge problem,” said Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University.
Partnering with the University of Guelph, he was one of the prinicipal authors of a new report analyzing the impact of the new guide released last month.
More than 1,000 Canadians were surveyed to test their awareness of the newest version as well as how applicable it might be. The authors also analyzed the costs for an average family of four following the guide.
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The new guide could cost a family $26 each day versus $28 under the old guide but that will change over time. Food waste was not considered in this survey. Money spent at food service was not calculated although it is known Canadians spent about a third of their budget on meals outside the home.
In two to three years, the gap will narrow and disappear by 2022.
“Our message to Health Canada is savings are not going last,” he said at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference held in Red Deer from March 12-14.
The guide encourages eating more plant-based proteins like beans and lentils. Canada exports most of these and imports billions of dollars worth of fruit and vegetables.
“If the Canadian dollar tanks we are going to pay even more. We have a very vulnerable population relative to fruits and vegetables,” he said.
“The food guide was a missed opportunity for Health Canada to really make a difference in Canadians’ lives while considering what we actually grow and produce in this country,” he said.
General awareness was also assessed.
They found 91 percent know there is a food guide but only 74 percent were aware of a new version. The least aware was Ontario while the most aware lived in Atlantic Canada.
More people, especially the younger generation, are not likely to consult the food guide when making meal choices.
The respondents rated family and friends as their number one source for food and nutrition information.
This was followed by general research, social media, cookbooks and television programs, followed by celebrities like actors and chefs seen on TV.
“The Canadian food guide is number six in terms of how influential it is,” he said.
The leading barrier to adopting the new recommendations was a perception that the new guide is not affordable. Others said the food did not fit their taste preferences or dietary needs.
“People don’t see how they can put it into practice,” he said.
