Sultan Jessa: Are you eating healthy food?

BY SULTAN JESSA

MONTREAL – CANADA: Healthy eating is important to keep fit.

Canada has just introduced a new guide to keep its citizens healthy and fit.

Diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart problems and cancer are taking a big toll on Canadians. After years of debate and consultations, Ottawa has completely overhauled Canada’s Food Guide.

If we all follow the new guide, we will be healthy. And at the same time Canada will save millions of dollars in health care costs.

Even before my recent health problems, we tried our best to eat healthy. Our diet includes grains, lentils, fruits and vegetables, some red meat but mostly fish and chicken.

Federal government’s new strategy encourages Canadians to eat healthier foods. The revamped Canadian Food Guide makes a lot of sense. We all have to encourage our children to give up junk and processed foods. Make sure you read the labels for foods that are high in salt, sugar or saturated fat. Health Canada has been encouraging us to eat more plant based foods and reduce meat and dairy products.

I never thought Ottawa would ever put a lot of emphasis on this. The new guide, revealed by Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor, has a clear message. Eat more plants and less meat and dairy. A lot of emphasis has been put on plant based foods like tofu and chickpeas. Of course, there will be some opposition from meat and dairy producers. But, health comes first. And nothing is more important than health. If you don’t have health, you have nothing. You can still have a couple of portions of fish and chicken a week. But, make sure you also include vegetables and fruits.