Food Policy a first for Canada

Food security is a big problem for many Canadian seniors. In BC ~10% of the people using the Food Bank were seniors and ~ 12% were receiving some pension income.  In Canada, only about 7% of Food Bank users were seniors, with  11% receiving pension income. In March of 2018, there was 1,096,935 total number of visits to Food Banks. Food bank use continues to be unacceptably high. It was nice to see that the Federal government has come up with a new Food Policy for Canada. Although this is a good start, the Food Bank still needs your help, so as the Feds roll out their new policy, don't forget to support your local Food Bank.

The following is part of the press release that announced a new Food Policy for Canada. 

Canadian foods are recognized worldwide for the highest standards of quality and food safety. Responsible for one in eight jobs across the country, the food sector is a powerhouse of the economy, particularly in our rural communities. However, more needs to be done to improve our food system. For example, too many Canadians aren’t able to reliably access enough healthy food. Too many children are learning on empty stomachs. And we waste more than 11 million metric tons of food every year, worth nearly $50 billion.

The Food Policy for Canada is an ambitious initiative, the product of consultation and collaboration with Canadians across the country. The Government of Canada heard from more than 45,000 Canadians, including food producers and processors, experts in environment, health and food security, Indigenous groups, non-government organizations, and community advocates.

The vision for the Food Policy for Canada developed through these consultations is: All people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious and culturally diverse food. Canada’s food system is resilient and innovative, sustains our environment, and supports our economy.

To realize this vision, the Government of Canada is investing $134 million through Budget 2019, which includes new initiatives to help achieve key objectives.

A central piece of the Food Policy for Canada announced today is the creation of a Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council. The Council will bring together the expertise and diversity needed beyond government to address the challenges of today, as well as the future of Canada’s food system. An open and transparent process, that includes letters of nomination, will begin over the summer.

Also announced is the launch of a five-year, $50 million Local Food Infrastructure Fund, designed to support community-led projects that improve access to safe, healthy and culturally diverse food. Starting August 15, 2019, eligible organizations will be invited to submit an application through the first intake period for non-repayable funding of up to $25,000.

Minister Bibeau also highlighted other Food Policy of Canada initiatives, including:

• a new Canada Brand and Buy Canadian promotional campaigns that will aim to increase pride and consumer confidence in Canadian food;
• support for community-led projects like greenhouses, community freezers, and skills training that address food challenges and food insecurity in Northern and isolated communities;
•  a challenge fund to support the most innovative food waste reduction ideas in food processing, grocery retail, and food service;
• new funds to help the Canadian Food Inspection Agency crack down on food fraud – the mislabeling and misrepresentation of food products – to protect consumers from deception and companies from unfair competition; and
•  to take the first steps to work alongside provinces and not-for-profit organizations towards the creation of a National School Food Program.

The Food Policy for Canada aligns with the objectives of initiatives across the Federal Government, such as the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Healthy Eating Strategy, and the Poverty Reduction Strategy, among others.


Quick facts
The Food Policy for Canada will invest in four short-term action areas:

1. helping Canadian communities access healthy food;
2. making Canadian food the top choice at home and abroad;
3. supporting food security in Northern and Indigenous communities; 
4. and reducing food waste

Guidelines for successful personalized gift giving

First and foremost, always be sure to choose a suitable base product. It doesn't matter how good your personalization is if the underlying product is something the person doesn't need or want it will not do the job!

Secondly, once you have identified a suitable product, be sure to personalize it with the appropriate designs, designs that are meaningful to the intended recipient.

Get these two things right and your family and friends will soon give you the reputation of being a great gift giver!

Some of the more popular customizable gifts ideas that you may want to consider include:

For the home and office
Bar mats, blankets, bookmarks, calendars, clocks, coasters, door mats, letter openers, memo pads, mouse pads, mugs, ornaments, photo cubes, pillowcases, placemats, porcelain plates, rubber stamps, shower curtains and towels.

Personal accessories
Belt buckles, camera cases, cosmetics bags, flip flops, lighters, hip flasks, key rings, luggage tags, money clips, photo bags, umbrellas, wallets, watches and jewelry.

Other popular customizable gifts include badges, canvas prints, clothing, tablet computer cases, golf accessories, magnets, mobile phone cases, photo books, playing cards, posters and stickers.

While I have mentioned quite a few customizable gifts ideas here, remember, there are thousands of others out there, so you should always be able to find exactly what you are looking for.

To conclude
When you identify the exact gift you are looking for, all you have to do is make your own design using your own photos, logos, designs and text, place your design on your product of choice, and low and behold, you will have the perfect gift for just about anyone, regardless of age, gender or the occasion…

Nutritional Needs of Older Adults

Older adults have unique nutritional needs and may need to make changes to their diets as the years go by. Muscle mass can decrease as a natural part of ageing, and people do not burn calories at the same rate as they do during their younger years.

Targeting nutrient-dense foods is essential for older adults, and avoidance of high-calorie foods that lack vital nutrients is crucial.

Beneficial foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes, and low-fat dairy. Portion control may also be necessary — for older adults especially — as people may eat more food than they need.

It can be challenging to cook for a smaller family, so experts sometimes suggest cooking ahead and freezing portions to eat later when cooking is less appealing.

The particulars of this latest study seem to mirror the nutritional needs of older adults. However, the authors suggest that the addition of more protein may be the key to avoiding some of the unhealthful pitfalls that can take place when an older adult loses weight.  The study released in February 2019 shows that a  high-protein, low-calorie diet helps older adults with obesity lose more weight, maintain more muscle mass, improve bone quality and lose bad fat.

Geriatricians have long struggled with how to recommend safe weight loss for seniors, because dropping pounds can lead to muscle and bone loss.

This study aimed to quantify the risk of doing nothing by comparing results from a weight loss group vs. a weight stability group. The researchers decided not to include exercise, because many older adults are unlikely to perform the volume and intensity of exercise needed to preserve muscle and bone. Here's what the researchers found:

·       Participants lost about 18 pounds, most of it fat (87 percent), and preserved muscle mass. The control group lost about half a pound.

·       Even when participants lost weight, they maintained bone mass. In fact, the trabecular bone score, a measure of bone quality that predicts fracture risk, seemed to improve.

·       Fat was lost in the stomach, hips, thighs and rear, which is important for preventing or controlling cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes and stroke.

·       Participants' score on the Healthy Aging Index, which measures biomarkers that predict mortality and longevity, improved by 0.75 points.

·       In this study, the researchers had the weight-loss group follow a high-protein, nutritionally complete, a reduced-calorie meal plan that included the use of four meal replacements, two meals of lean protein and vegetables prepared by the participants, and one healthy snack. The researcher said that any high-protein, nutritious low-calorie meal plan would likely work.

·       The weight-stability group attended health education classes and were encouraged to maintain their baseline diet and normal activity.

Doctors hesitate to recommend weight loss for fear that losing muscle and bone could cause mobility issues or increase the risk of injury," said the principal investigator of this study. "This study suggests that a diet high in protein and low in calories can give seniors the health benefits of weight loss while keeping the muscle and bone they need for better quality of life as they age."

The Caregiver’s Journey

I recently gave a workshop on Care for the caregiver and it reminded me of the wonderful and stressful job caregivers do for the people that are under their care. The demands of caregiving can be overwhelming.

Many people don’t view themselves as caregivers when in reality that is exactly what they are. Unfortunately, the number of male caregivers is increasing. One-third report extra expenses due to caregiving responsibilities. The economic value of this unpaid work is between 6 and 9 billion dollars.60% of caregivers assist a parent or in-law.

The roles of the caregiver are many and varied. A caregiver is someone who provides physical and/or emotional assistance to someone who is ill, frail or disabled. The role of a caregiver may include, household and financial management, coordinating communications, coordinating transportation and/or taking on the role of chauffeur. 

The caregiver may also be a chief cook and dish-washer, problem-solver, health aide, legal assistant, activist and advocate, and executive secretary.  Think of all the skills it takes to perform all these tasks. Many people family, friends and neighbours do not identify themselves as caregivers - they feel they are just ‘helping out’. 

No wonder caregiver’s burnout If the stress of care-giving progresses to burnout, it can damage both the caregiver’s physical and mental health. The caregiver has much less energy than before they started to give care. The caregiver is constantly exhausted, even after sleeping or taking a break and will often neglect personal needs. Caregivers also have trouble relaxing even when help is available.

When a caregiver is burned out, they will be increasingly impatient and irritable with the person being cared for. There is no shortage of recommendations for lowering stress, but we’ve zeroed in on five tips that are particularly pertinent for caregivers. Here are some of the ideas we recommend in our workshop

1.  Exercise.

Ø Find time to exercise even if it is only a short walk every day.

2.  Meditation.

3.  Prevention.

4.  Respite care.

5.  Seeking support.

6.  Take a break and pamper yourself:

Ø Have a massage or pedicure, go to a ball game, see a movie, or visit a friend.

Ø Watch a favourite TV show, take a walk or have a hot bath.

7.        Try to sleep at least 7.5 hours a night.

8.        Look for humour in everyday situations.

9.        Keep a journal and write down your thoughts and feelings.

10.    Watch for signs of depression and get help right away.

11.    When people offer to help, suggest specific things they can do, such as cooking or housework, or getting information (e.g. about support services).

There are many services may be offered in your community, to help caregivers reach out to such as:

1.              adult day care centres.

2.              home health aides.

3.              home-delivered meals.

4.              To find a community support group:

Ø   Ask the doctor or hospital for a referral.

Ø   Do a web search.

Ø Call your local health authority.

Many caregivers don’t know how to reach out for help nor do they understand the benefits of having a support group either in person or on the Internet. Here are some benefits of a support group:

1.  They may live near each other and meet regularly at a local site.

2.  It is a chance to develop communication skills.

3.  Contact is face-to-face and reduces feelings of isolation while providing a social outlet.

4.  If you join an Internet support group, people may be from all over the world share similar interests and problems.

5.  People from other areas might have new ideas.

The Caregiver’s Journey

There is no such thing as a perfect caregiver! When people offer to help, the answer should always be YES! Remember that you are responding to a disease, not to the person that once was. Ask for help if people don’t offer, they may think that you are doing well and don’t need help, there is nothing wrong in asking for help.