The new Canadian Foodguide

[DaisyJane]

As an (almost) vegan I take B12. I have flirted with adding calcium supplements, though the almond milk I tend to include in my diet is fortified with calcium. I don't actually drink the milk, as in have a glass of the stuff, but do use it in coffee, tea, and cooking/baking.

 

[Greywolf336]

My theory is, I am going to eat whatever I like and if it fits in some guide then great and if not, well that’s life. Saying that, I do try to eat veggies and fruit and balanced meals, but. I’d rather eat what I enjoy and die a few years younger than stress over what I am eating for an extra couple of years.

 

[BetteTheRed]

Apparently, bone density has a great deal to do with how much weight-bearing exercise you did in your teens through early twenties. By the time you care about it, it's too late to do anything about it.

And Asian people tend (and there are exceptions) to a diet very low in dairy, and they seem less prone to bone density problems than Western people.

 

[revsdd]

My theory is, I am going to eat whatever I like and if it fits in some guide then great and if not, well that’s life. Saying that, I do try to eat veggies and fruit and balanced meals, but. I’d rather eat what I enjoy and die a few years younger than stress over what I am eating for an extra couple of years.

Indeed. Food should be a pleasure and not a burden!

And once the current excitement over the new food guide is over, how many people will actually care about it? A few days ago CBC interviewed people on the street about the Canada Food Guide. Most people had never heard of it, almost none (even those who had heard of it) actually used it.

 

[ChemGal]

I think overall this foodguide is way better than the last version. If I followed one of the recommendations in the last one, there is a very good chance I would have died.
Dieticians have long been recommending the 'plate' method of half fruits & vegetables. It is much more simple. It fits better with different types of diets, both from a nutritional standpoint and from a cultural one. I also like their recommendations of highly processed foods vs. processed foods. They actually promote eating processed foods.

 

[ninj]

Apparently, bone density has a great deal to do with how much weight-bearing exercise you did in your teens through early twenties. By the time you care about it, it's too late to do anything about it.

And Asian people tend (and there are exceptions) to a diet very low in dairy, and they seem less prone to bone density problems than Western people.

I wasn't aware of that....should be interesting...having a bone scan soon.. In my twenties, I worked slugging boxes all day. I walked or biked everywhere...it was all downhill from there.

 

[Luce NDs]

Indeed. Food should be a pleasure and not a burden!

And once the current excitement over the new food guide is over, how many people will actually care about it? A few days ago CBC interviewed people on the street about the Canada Food Guide. Most people had never heard of it, almost none (even those who had heard of it) actually used it.

Like a lot of stuffed info ... people do not wish to know what is integral to the entire situation ... like ante bad nous ... we don't know until the Eire emerges as err ... isn't that a booty?

In hard cases we learn slowly over huge spreads of time ... even though a lot of people life for presence (blossoming narcissism, necros to others)! Often considered an improper word as one that folks don't like to hear!

 

[Jaebius]

Where are you now that they cost that much? I buy a large bag of Farmer's Market Empire apples at my No Frills for $5-6, usually 5. Imported fruits have become more expensive there, though. For instance, I remember buying 4-6 grapefruit (a favorite of mine) for $2 even last decade. Now, they are rarely available in bundles save in places like Costco (where the quality tends to be iffy) and cost as much as $1 each at times.

As for the guide itself, the Chinese (and maybe Korean?) diet has been there for a long time. Meat is in small quantities and often cut up and mixed with veggies or plant proteins like tofu. Goes back to when meat was scarce there moreso than being a health thing, but clearly there are health benefits, too.

The traditional Korean diet was there, and many Koreans still eat that way. That said, Koreans are eating more fast food and sweet treats these days than they did before. Also, Koreans love their coffee.

^^ This is based on what I've seen and conversations I've had with Korean family, friends, coworkers and students.

 

[Jaebius]

That's for 4lb/1.8kg of apples which lasts me a couple weeks minimum, often longer (I am the only one who eats apples at home) and it's been that price for years so I don't find it that pricey.

How do you eat that many apples before they go to rot? I find that I must buy fresh fruit/vegetables in small quantities or else they go bad before I can eat them. I bought potatoes the other day that went quite nasty.

 

[Mendalla]

That said, Koreans are eating more fast food and sweet treats these days than they did before. Also, Koreans love their coffee.

Not sure about coffee (Bucky's is in Shanghai but not sure how popular they are), but the Chinese are definitely getting into fast food. KFC is a favorite with them. More Chinese than burgers. However, some domestic rivals had sprung up to compete so I'm not sure of the current situation. I have had some Chinese "fast food" that was fairly good and healthy. The noodle soups they served in Jiuzhaigou National Park, for instance, took only minutes to prepare (the broth was premade, of course) and was decently healthy, if a bit spicy (Jiuzhaigou is in Szechuan province).

 

[Mendalla]

How do you eat that many apples before they go to rot? I find that I must buy fresh fruit/vegetables in small quantities or else they go bad before I can eat them. I bought potatoes the other day that went quite nasty.

Apples keep a long time unless they are bruised IME. Certainly the 2-3 weeks it takes me to go through a bag.

Potatoes are a mixed bag (hah). If they aren't fresh to start with, they will start sprouting and going grey fairly quickly. When we buy 10lbs to use in soups and stews, I'll bet 2 lbs. or so gets thrown out due to us cutting out sprouts and bad spots. Wish you could get a smaller bag (maybe 4-5 lbs).

 

[Jaebius]

Not sure about coffee (Bucky's is in Shanghai but not sure how popular they are), but the Chinese are definitely getting into fast food. KFC is a favorite with them. More Chinese than burgers. However, some domestic rivals had sprung up to compete so I'm not sure of the current situation. I have had some Chinese "fast food" that was fairly good and healthy. The noodle soups they served in Jiuzhaigou National Park, for instance, took only minutes to prepare (the broth was premade, of course) and was decently healthy, if a bit spicy (Jiuzhaigou is in Szechuan province).

Korea has some healthy street food. I've seen quite a few carts offering up soups, noodle dishes and rice dishes. At the same time, there are carts offering up deep fried foods - often on sticks. I'm a bit wary of trying the food from carts though - because of its possible exposure to the fine dust. A lot of American fast food chains are represented here, and Korea has its own - Lotteria.

 

[Jaebius]

Apples keep a long time unless they are bruised IME. Certainly the 2-3 weeks it takes me to go through a bag.

Potatoes are a mixed bag (hah). If they aren't fresh to start with, they will start sprouting and going grey fairly quickly. When we buy 10lbs to use in soups and stews, I'll bet 2 lbs. or so gets thrown out due to us cutting out sprouts and bad spots. Wish you could get a smaller bag (maybe 4-5 lbs).

Thank you for the info on apples. May try adding more of those to my diet.

The market I shop at sells potatoes individually. I bought 4 two days ago there and ate some mashed. They were yum.

 

[Mendalla]

A lot of American fast food chains are represented here, and Korea has its own - Lotteria.

There's all kinds of Chinese fast food places and chains but most of them only post their names in Chinese characters so I have no idea what they are actually called. I identify them by their logos and mascots (e.g. there's a chicken place with a silly looking cartoon chicken on all its signs).

 

[Jaebius]

There's all kinds of Chinese fast food places and chains but most of them only post their names in Chinese characters so I have no idea what they are actually called. I identify them by their logos and mascots (e.g. there's a chicken place with a silly looking cartoon chicken on all its signs).

That's a good point about the characters. There are probably more Korean chains too.

 

[Mrs.Anteater]

Her point was that food guides aren't laws, they are recommended guidelines. Some provinces may require school cafeterias and the like to follow them, but for most of us they are optional, if highly recommended. And you can follow any food guide you like regardless of where you are. If you prefer the Canadian one, use it. No one's going to arrest you or even notice.

@Mrs.Anteater , I hope you're okay if I merge this with the one I started in Health and Aging. Makes it easier to follow if it's all in one place.

Absolutely. I didn ‘t noticed that there was already a thread.

 

[Jaebius]

The traditional Korean diet was there, and many Koreans still eat that way. That said, Koreans are eating more fast food and sweet treats these days than they did before. Also, Koreans love their coffee.

^^ This is based on what I've seen and conversations I've had with Korean family, friends, coworkers and students.

Among the fast food chains here are pizzerias, and they do some interesting things with their pies.

 

[Luce NDs]

Always take care of the Boies ...

 

[Luce NDs]

Always take care of the Boies ...

The bewitching will chose to fold them up ... putem in a closet ...

 

[Mendalla]

Absolutely. I didn ‘t noticed that there was already a thread.

Actually, I think it was me not noticing yours. At least when I merged them it put your opening post first.

Among the fast food chains here are pizzerias, and they do some interesting things with their pies.
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My suspicion is that Italians feel that way about a lot of North American pizza, too. I have had pizza in Italy and it's a whole different yummy ballgame.