Research Showcase Abstracts
Explore abstracts from CFDR’s annual research showcase at the DC Conference.
Year
2022
Category
Research
Language
English
Names, Organizational Affiliations, and Locations of all Authors (2022 and Later)
C. O’Connor1, J. Li1
1School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London, ON
1School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London, ON
Title
Exploring the usefulness and relevance of Canada’s Food Guide as a tool when consulting patients
Introduction/Purpose
In January 2019, Health Canada released the new version of Canada’s Food Guide (CFG). The detailed portion size recommendations were replaced with general healthy eating guidelines for people of all ages. It is meaningful to explore registered dietitians’ perspectives on adopting the new CFG into their practice.
Objective(s)/Process or Summary of Content
To explore the use and relevance of CFG as a tool in nutrition counselling for registered dietitians in Ontario.
Method(s)/Systemic Approach Used
A link to an online survey was sent to dietitians in Ontario through the Dietitians of Canada (DC) “Find a Dietitian” feature. The survey explored the frequency of use of the new CFG including, most frequently used information, perceived usefulness, concerns, and other resources used.
Results/Conclusions
Of the 315 Ontario dietitians invited, 132 complete surveys were received. Most dietitians (76%) reported using CFG for patient education, and 39.5% agreed that CFG is useful or very useful in their practice. Promoting healthy eating concepts, promoting plant-based food, and encouraging home-cooking were the most commonly reported reasons for using CFG in patient education. Aside from CFG, dietitians indicated government health resources were referenced the most. The removal of serving sizes, recommended number of portions for each food group, and dairy products as a food group were the top concerns with the new CFG.
Conclusions(s)/Recommendations
The new CFG combines healthy food, mindful eating practices, and home cooking to present people with a holistic approach to healthy eating. Although it is a useful tool for general healthy eating guidance, there are concerns with the new version, and additional resources are often required when providing nutrition recommendations.
Significance to Dietetics
Dietitians, as the experts in nutrition assessment, intervention and counseling, are key stakeholders of CFG. This research highlights how the new CFG is being used and key concerns with the new version that may have an impact on the health of Canadians.
Funded by
Brescia University College
