​Mayor Steve Black today signed a proclamation Friday declaring March 2016 to be Nutrition Month in Timmins.
The proclamation was signed in the presence of dieticians from Timmins representing the Porcupine Health Unit, Misiway Health and the Victoria Order of Nurses.
“On behalf of the City of Timmins I declare March 2016 to be Dieticians of Canada Nutrition Month,” Mayor said in reading the proclamation.
During Nutrition Month dieticians from Timmins will launch The 100 Meal Journey.
“I have been eating health for a month and a half,” Mayor Black said about his commitment to nutritious and healthy meals. “And I encourage the people of Timmins to join me in make healthy choices.”
The focus of Nutrition Month is to encourage people to make small dietary changes one meal at a time explained Caitlin Minard, a Porcupine Public Health Unit dietician.
The purpose of Nutrition Month is to help people work together to make changes to their diets that often are difficult to make.
“The best approach for people is to choose small, meaningful nutrition goal to work on throughout Nutrition Month,” Minard said.
“People eat about 100 meals in one month,” she said. “We hope that the changes they make during Nutrition Month will continue and be incorporated into a healthier meal choice.”
Eating two cups of vegetables at dinner time was an example given by Minard of a change that people can introduce to their meals during Nutrition Month.
“Something that is measurable and tangible,” she said.
“It could also be changing what you drink with your meals,” added Victoria Hall who also is with Porcupine Health Unit’s Nutrition Services. “A choice would be to drink water with every meal and eliminate sugar sweetened beverages.
At Misiway Health which primarily serves Timmins’ First Nations community they have been promoting healthy diet to prevent diabetes.
“Misiway is promoting the eating of more fibres to combat diabetes,” said Danielle Lawrence, a dietician with the organization. “Try to reduce simple sugars by eating foods rich in fibre such as whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta- foods that will make you feel full.”
Porcupine Public Health Unit and Timmins dieticians will be holding a workshop on March 9, 2016 at 6 p.m. at their offices at 169 Pine Street S.
The workshop will discuss food quality, challenges to health eating, how to select reasonable foo portions and sizes and making health eating habits last
Each dietician will bring their favourite healthy meal or snack for sampling.
Those seeking advice can also contact Eat Right Ontario website where you can talk to a dietician about questions you may have. Click here to visit Eat Right Ontario.
Those who wish to participate in the 100 Meal Journey can participate through Facebook o Twitter by using #100MealsNorth through the month of March.
People are encouraged to share stories and photos of their 100 Meal Journey.
Every visitor who uses the hash tag #100MealsNorth will have a ballot entered for a weekly draw for a Fitbit and one grand prize valued at $250 at the end of the month.
