March is Nutrition Month. Every year, Canadian Registered Dietitians (RDs) take this opportunity to highlight the role of nutrition in people’s health and wellness. Note that to be qualified as a RD in Canada, one must have completed the requirements of his/her provincial governing body, for example the College of Dietitians of Ontario, and adhere to its professional standards. ‘Nutritionist’ and ‘Dietitian’ differ in that the latter title is protected by a regulatory body and therefore only qualified individuals can use the designation.
How will Filipinos celebrate Nutrition Month? What does nutrition mean to Filipino-Canadians, anyways?
Food and nutrition can mean a lot of things for Filipinos. Food is truly an essential part of our core being! In my family, pansit served for dinner or during a celebration, may it be Palabok, Canton, or Bihon, it is sure to be a hit. However, we also take nutrition seriously because of our family’s history of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
As many Filipinos know, hopeful immigrants undergo intensive medical tests to qualify for a visa to migrate to Canada. Over time, the day-to-day stresses, may it be physical, emotional or environmental, can take a toll on one’s health. Life gets busy and packed with activities, that it is often easy to just buy unhealthy meals instead of preparing them at home. For many Canadian-Filipinos, Canada is a land of abundance and with the multitudes of choices, it is quite easy to overeat regularly. A paradox exists as new immigrants’ health statuses actually worsen the longer they stay in Canada. In fact, it is more likely for an immigrant who has been in Canada for 15 years or more to develop Type 2 diabetes compared to those who have been residing in the country for less than five years. Although there are many factors that contribute to its development, diet plays a significant role.
How then, should Filipino-Canadians find the balance between having food as a part of our cultural identity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing diet-related diseases?
Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide is a tool Canadians use to help decide which foods to eat and how much should be consumed. In summary, depending on one’s gender and age, Health Canada recommends specific amounts of servings of fruits and vegetables, meat and meat alternatives, milk and milk alternatives and grains to be consumed per day. In the United States, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released MyPlate, a suggested model of eating where half of the plate is filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with grains, the other quarter for meat and dairy products on the side.
As a Filipino Registered Dietitian, I get questions about whether the Canada’s Food Guide or MyPlate are applicable to Filipinos. I say, of course!
These are both guidelines, not rules, and can be modified for each individual regardless of their cultural background. It can also be personalized for people who do not eat meat or those who have sensitivities and intolerances.
There are many strategies to include more whole grains, low fat dairy products fruits and vegetables to your diet, whether you are preparing meals at home, or eating out. In addition, there are tools to use such as the Nutrition Facts Table, and the ingredients list to compare and help you decide which packaged foods to purchase.
Food will always be central to the Filipino identity. The key is enjoying all foods in moderation and cherishing the time spent with those you eat with.