By Josh Lockhart, MC (Candidate), PHEc
I think if we could let our children and youth frolic in the fields throughout their upbringing, we would see child and youth mental health issues decrease. I have been noticing an interesting trend amongst the children and youth I am working with. Typically a child or youth is referred to the centre I am at when there is something going array at school, but during the breaks there are few referrals.
The school system tends to be a rigid system where you sit at your desk for said amount of time to learn math, get recess here, sit back in the desk to read and write. And as parents and society we panic when something isn’t going right at school. However, we sometimes fail to take into account the individualism of each student, and try to stuff everyone into this box that is our education system. read more…
by Michelle J. Kwan, BFA, BASc Candidate
While the increased use of technology in the workplace may have significantly boosted office efficiency, it has inadvertently decreased national physical activity levels.
According to the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) completed by Statistics Canada, only 15% of Canadians meet the physical activity guidelines. Based on results of the fitness tests, ‘Canadian adults face health risks due to suboptimal fitness levels’, the study concluded. Sadly, it appears that the majority of Canadians spend most of their waking hours in sedentary pursuits.
By Ruth Marshall, Professional Home Economist & Ruth McDonald, Professional Home Economist
Members of the Toronto Home Economics Association will gather at The Arcadian Court, Simpson Tower, Toronto, on May 7thth for a celebration dinner and their 75th Annual General Meeting. Emily Richards, Professional Home Economist and author, will be the guest speaker. She will speak about how respected home economists are around the world and how we are becoming a more prevalent force. Seventy-five years is an amazing achievement for a non-profit organization. Marie Holmes, who wrote the “Cooking Chat” column for the Toronto Daily Star, invited a few home economists to meet with her informally at the Toronto Women’s Press Club room in October 1935. The purpose was to encourage problem-sharing, understanding and help within the field of home economics. Those present, in addition to Mary, were: Dorothy Addison, Lorna Faulds, Jean Faulds, Eleanor Jury, Helen Olmstead and Marjorie Thompson. They continued to meet for the next two years and gradually added to their group. Then, in June 1937, an executive was elected with Lorna Faulds as President. The first recorded minutes of the Toronto Home Economics Club were dated October 5, 1937 and showed that those present outlined the purpose of the “club”, set a time and place for future meetings, planned the program for a year, discussed qualifications for membership, and set the fees at $1.00 per year. Quite an agenda!
by Erin MacGregor, P.H.Ec., RD
Canadians are embracing vegetarian restaurants, buying meat-free cookbooks and consuming an increasing number of vegetable-centric meals at home. It appears that Meatless Mondays are official.
Much of this recent popularity stems from a growing body of research which indicates that a vegetarian lifestyle can significantly reduce one’s risk of developing chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
The authors of 125 Best Gluten-Free Recipes,Donna Washburn and Heather Butt offer some wonderful suggestions for teaching kids about eating gluten-free:
- It is important that young people who suffer from celiac disease feel part of the group and not different. All decisions should be made keeping this in mind, while ensuring the diet is strictly followed.
- Teach! Teach! Teach! Don’t make decisions for even the youngest child. Every time a new food is selected or served, casually explain why it can or cannot be tolerated. Stress the positive. Soon the questions will come from the child. It is important for children with celiac disease to know that the parent will not always be with them. “When I was too young to read,” says 11-year-old Deanna Jennett, “I wore a MedicAlert bracelet. Whenever adults offered me food, I could ask them if I should have it because of what my bracelet said.” Teach them that “if in doubt, do without.” read more…
You wouldn’t enter into unknown territory without some sort of guide so why eat your way through life without a guide? Guides are just that, a guide.
It doesn’t mean you must follow them word for word they are there to get you started, teach you the basics and help you on your way. They are also there for you when you fall off track and help to steer you back in the right direction.
by Mairlyn Smith P.H.Ec.
Maybe it’s because our plates are getting bigger. Maybe it’s because we are inundated with food images on TV. Sadly, maybe it’s because mandatory Home Economics classes have gone the way of the dinosaur. Whatever the reason, the bottom-line is – our portion sizes are getting bigger and so are our personal bottom-lines.
Research supports that as Canadians have gained weight, the health of our nation has suffered. Heart disease and Type II diabetes have had a huge upswing, matching the upswing on our bathroom scales. There is no simple answer. However, there is a resounding plea from Canadian healthcare practitioners to control the mindless quantities of food we pile onto our dinner plates.
By Jennifer Dyck, PHEc
Be up-to-date with your health
In today’s world of information overload we have messages coming at us from all angles on what is healthy, what is not, eat more of this, don’t eat that, eat only this and never that. Let’s face it, it’s confusing.
So, how do you pick out the up-to-date information that you need when it travels amongst loud, stylish, trendy fads?
By Josh Lockhart, PHEc
Did you see the headlines Feb. 18? That TV and antisocial behaviour are linked? There was avid attention garnered by this recent study released from New Zealand that was published in Pediatrics. This study linked “excessive” television watching to antisocial and criminal behaviour.
What is impressive about this study is that it involved a large number of participants, 1,037 to be exact. All participants were born in New Zealand in 1972 and 1973. Even more impressive is that the participants were followed for five to 15 years tracking their TV watching hours.
