JLC’s Dani Flowerday "Celebrates food…from field to table" as speaker at March GM during National Nutrition Month!

March was National Nutrition Month and this year’s theme was "Celebrate food… from field to table!” JLC member Dani Flowerday is a Registered Dietician with more than 15 years of experience promoting nutrition and health within the community. Dani has a keen interest in nutrition education and has worked with a variety of health and wellness agencies and fitness centres within Calgary.

Nutrition Month is an initiative from Dietitians of Canada to encourage families to take an active role in planning meals, purchasing food and preparing healthy food at home. It’s an opportunity for parents, teachers and community leaders to educate children about food and nutrition. 

"Obesity has become the most prevalent nutritional problem in the world, eclipsing under-nutrition and infectious disease as the most significant contributor to ill health and mortality" (CMAJ, 2007; 176-8). In Canada, one in four children is overweight and obesity rates have quadrupled over the last 15 years. Health risks associated with obesity are occurring at a much younger age and include Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, osteoarthritis and social and psychological problems such as low self esteem and depression. 

Obesity is caused by an imbalance between calories consumed and calories used. Though it sounds like a simple equation there are many genetic, behavioural and environmental contributors at play. Some of the
behaviours which have been identified as potentially contributing to this energy imbalance include:

• Lack of physical activity
• Increase in sedentary behaviour
• Increased portion sizes for food and beverages
• Increased number of meals eaten away from home
• Frequent snacking on energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods
• Increased consumption of sugar sweetened drinks
• Fewer family meals prepared and eaten at home

Kids In the Kitchen is an all-league initiative to raise awareness and provide solutions for childhood obesity. In Calgary, KITK takes place each spring at a selected elementary school that devotes an entire day to learning about healthy and active living. Kids ages 9-12 rotate through four interactive learning areas including food preparation, creative dance and exercise, a food group relay and a "Mission Nutrition" food lab.
In the "Mission Nutrition" food lab children visit four learning stations, where they are challenged to find out the facts about healthy eating. Each learning station attempts to address several of the behaviours contributing to childhood obesity in a fun and interactive way, hopefully inspiring and empowering our kids to make healthy living choices throughout their lives.

• Station 1: Eating Well With Canada’s Food Guide - Kids identify the amount and types of food that makes up a healthy eating pattern.
•  Station 2: Rate Your Breakfast Cereal - Children learn how to use the nutrition facts label on food packaging to identify healthy options.
• Station 3: Quench Your Thirst…Not Your Sweet Tooth - Kids learn about healthy drinks choices and how much sugar goes into sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Station 4: Fast Food, Be Choosey - Kids learn how to identify healthier fast food options.

This year Kids in the Kitchen takes place on May 3rd at Cambrian Heights School.

Our sincere thanks to Dani for speaking at our GM on this timely subject, enlightening us about good nutrition and encouraging us to rededicate ourselves to the KITK initiative. Thank you also to all the JLC members who volunteered to assist with the demonstrations!

For more information on National Nutrition Month as well as for up-to-date reliable nutrition tips and resources go to www.dietitians.ca.