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Hope For The Future, by Teresa Ford, VLCE

Governmental dietary guidelines have the potential for massive influence on citizens’ food choices. That’s why it is great to see that Brazil, Canada, and the US are shifting toward guidelines that are actually based on evidence.

Brazil Makes International News

When Brazil’s revised dietary guidelines were released in 2014, they made international news and were praised by many. Authors state they were not influenced by the food and beverage industry during the development process. They make no reference to specific nutrients or serving sizes. They advise to eat food “predominately of plant origin.” The guidelines consider cultural, social, and environmental impacts. And they reflect that it is not only what we eat, but how we eat that makes a difference.

Brazil’s Ministry of Health distilled the essentials of the guidelines into ten easy steps, as follows:

1. Prepare meals from staple and fresh foods.
2. Use oils, fats, sugar, and salt in moderation.
3. Limit consumption of ready-to-consume food and drink products.
4. Eat regular meals, paying attention, and in appropriate environments.
5. Eat in company whenever possible.
6. Buy food at places that offer varieties of fresh foods. Avoid those that mainly sell products ready for consumption.
7. Develop, practice, share, and enjoy your skills in food preparation and cooking.
8. Plan your time to give meals and eating proper time and space.
9. When you eat out, choose restaurants that serve freshly made dishes and meals. Avoid fast food chains.
10. Be critical of the commercial advertisement of food products.

Canada May Be Stepping Up

Canada’s government is on the verge of publishing a new Food Guide. As a Canadian and advocate for plant-based eating, I have been following this story with great interest. Health Canada officials have admitted in the past to altering the guidelines due to pressure from animal industry lobbyists. But this time around, they stated that while the food and beverage industry has a role to play in improving the quality of the products they manufacture and promote, Health Canada must ensure that the development of dietary guidance is free from conflict of interest. They state they are committed to using the best and most recent evidence in their decision making. Amen!

With that, what is Canada’s guide likely to advise Canadians? Here is the first thing Canadians will see, based on the draft:

Guiding Principle 1: A variety of nutritious foods and beverages are the foundation for healthy eating.

Health Canada recommends:

• Regular intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and protein-rich foods – especially plant-based sources of protein
• Inclusion of foods that contain mostly unsaturated fat, instead of foods that contain mostly of saturated fat
• Regular intake of water

And while the final Food Guide is pending, I am optimistic that the Canadian government will do right by its citizens this time.

And What About The U.S.?

Neil Barnard, MD, and other like-minded advocates have been lobbying the USDA for years. He posted this blog  the day the U.S. current dietary guidelines were released. He included this summary, which indeed highlights that some progress was made.

I had the great pleasure of attending The International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine (pictured below) a few months ago in Washington, DC. Neil Barnard’s organization, Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine, provides the conference jointly with The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Check out this great little video  filmed during the conference that captures some of positive energy and passion that exists now in the U.S. among health care professionals supporting plant-based eating. In it, Dr. Barnard assures Americans he is still working to change federal nutrition policies.

And while we wait for our governments to start encouraging citizens to eat only plants, we can forge ahead, leading the way, and inspiring others to do the same.

Teresa Ford lives in London, Ontario, Canada. She has a Nutritional Science degree and is a Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (Main Street Vegan Academy). She has worked in the field of clinical research for many years and was amazed when she learned of the large body of scientific evidence associating plant-based eating with wellness and longevity. Through her company, Take Root, she inspires people to eat delicious and nutritious plant-based food for maximal wellness by way of writing, speaking and coaching services. She applies best practices acquired through The Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach program to help people make lasting improvements in their approach to eating.

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