March – Nutrition Month: The Diversity of Healthy Eating

As Health Canada says: "Eat well. Live well." March is Nutrition Month and we at N4 want to take this opportunity to highlight how you can promote optimal nutrition in your work with newcomers. For newcomers, there can be additional challenges to optimal nutrition including food insecurity (lack of access to healthy food due to finances) and dietary acculturation (becoming familiar with their new country's food supply). In recognition of these challenges, Dieticians of Canada is suggesting a focus on how culture, food traditions, personal circumstances & nutritional needs all contribute to what healthy looks like.

On March 26th, join renowned experts on the nutrition of newcomers, Dr. Hassan Vantanparast and Dr. Ginny Lane, as they discuss How healthy are newcomer children? Nutritional concerns and healthcare access among immigrant children in Canada. This talk will discuss changes to food environment, nutrient/food insecurity, nutritional health, and barriers of access. Our livestreams allow an interactive question and answer period. If you do miss it however, our webinars are recorded and posted on our platform’s webinar collection for on demand viewing.

Photo: Vishan Charamis: @pronce.biersing

N4 also has many vetted and evidence based resources on nutrition supports for newcomers such as the Canada Food guide in 31 languages for ease of handout to your clients or patients. That guide also provides information for aspects such as budgeting, meal planning, food labels and tips on avoiding marketing tricks. We have also curated specialized on-line learning courses such as Navigating Ottawa’s Food Desert and Interpreting Canada’s Food Guide for Health Professionals.

We look forward to seeing you on the platform. Until then, eat well and live well!