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Are we really "eating well with Canada's food guide"?
Joyce J Slater1, Adriana N Mudryj2
1Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, 409 Human Ecology Building, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
BMC Public Health
|May 24, 2018
Summary
Canada's Food Guide (CFG) is widely recognized, but awareness doesn't always translate to healthy eating behaviors. Recent users of the guide reported better dietary habits, suggesting improved dissemination strategies are needed.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Nutrition
- Health Promotion Policy
Background:
- Canada's Food Guide (CFG) has served as a key health promotion resource for over 70 years.
- The most recent iteration of the CFG was published in 2007.
- This study investigates Canadian adults' exposure, knowledge, and utilization of the CFG.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the level of awareness and usage of Canada's Food Guide among the Canadian population.
- To identify demographic differences in awareness and use of the CFG.
- To explore the relationship between CFG consultation and healthy eating behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Canadian Community Health Survey's Rapid Response on Awareness and Usage of Canada's Food Guide.
- Survey included 10,098 Canadians aged 12 and older across all ten provinces.
- Employed descriptive statistics and logistic regression to analyze awareness, usage, and demographic factors.
Main Results:
- Over 80% of Canadians have heard of the CFG, with women showing higher awareness than men.
- Knowledge gaps exist regarding specific recommendations, such as daily consumption of orange vegetables.
- Individuals who recently consulted the CFG were more likely to meet fruit and vegetable recommendations and report improved eating habits.
Conclusions:
- While the CFG possesses strong "brand recognition," a disconnect persists between awareness and actual eating behaviors.
- The study suggests the need for enhanced dissemination strategies for the new Food Guide, incorporating digital media and tailored resources.
- Targeted approaches for diverse age and demographic groups are recommended to bridge the awareness-behavior gap.