The 2019 Food Guide Drama: What Really Matters.

In early January reports started coming out on some of the proposed changes to Canada’s upcoming new food guide. The reports mentioned the changes will have a greater emphasis on plant-based foods, and less emphasis on meat and dairy.

First of all, NO ONE has actually seen the final copy of the proposed food guide and everything that is being said is purely based on drafts and what was presented at various focus groups. We have some insight from people close to the development who have said that it will focus more on a plant-based diet and less on meat and dairy, but we do not know for sure what the final document will say once it is released.

They are not suggesting that everyone follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, but a healthy, plant-based diet with a goal to increase consumption of plant foods while reducing intake of processed foods, added oils, and higher fat animal foods. Minimally processed lean meats (including red meat) and low fat dairy products can still be very much a part of a healthy diet, but the reality is many people eat too much of these foods.

“Plant foods” not only refer to fruits and vegetables, but also grains, beans, peas, lentils and nuts. Research has shown that a diet high in minimally processed plant foods can reduce our risk for chronic disease (obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.) and improve outcomes for people who already have these diseases. Plant foods are generally lower in saturated fat, and higher in fibre, vitamins and minerals. Reducing the intake of ultra processed foods that are higher in saturated fat, salt and added sugars and replacing them with whole, nutrient-dense, high fibre plant foods can be beneficial for our health.

Research done in Canada by the Heart & Stroke Foundation shows that ultra-processed foods make up almost 50% of our total intake of calories each day. As they mention in their report, “The purpose of ultra-processing is to create products that are convenient (durable, ready-to-eat, -drink or -heat), attractive (hyperpalatable), and profitable (cheap ingredients). Their effect all over the world is to displace all other food groups. They are usually branded assertively, packaged attractively, and marketed intensively”.

Ultra-processed foods have infiltrated every facet of our diets, the controversy with targeting meat and dairy foods comes with which foods we replace them with. A lot of plant products can also be very highly processed, and have a lot of added fats, salt and sugars (e.g. French fries, baked desserts, crackers, chips, etc.). If we replace meat and dairy products with ultra processed plant foods then we are no better off.

At the end of the day we are wrong to demonize any one food group, we need to promote getting back in our kitchens and cooking meals with whole, minimally processed ingredients! Choosing more of these foods instead of resorting to the quick, convenience of ultra-processed ready-to-eat foods is the message the new food guide should really be sending.

-J