tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post1815783731537811425..comments2012-02-03T13:53:31.989-05:00Yoni Freedhoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15855979454844538601noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-26617407055844682772012-02-03T13:45:46.367-05:002012-02-03T13:45:46.367-05:00Well, here it is the place of absolute truth, let me ask you one question sir; are you the end of all discussion on the matter of nutrition science? If you were to be the only one consulted for recommendations on healthy food choices, would it be without criticism? You seem to imply that the advisory commitee&#39;s only interest here is industry profit, this is the farthest thing from the truth and anyone who cares to take the time to investigate will find that this committee is also comprised of highly educated professionals. The CFG is not a wieght loss program,it is a guide for healthy eating patterns and is based on a 2000 cal/day diet (why is this point missing in this blog) so adjust accordingly. Mr Freedhoff maybe you should explain the science of nutrition and where it&#39;s leading. Evidence based research is telling us that in N.America, on a cellular level, we are in a state of malnutrition(micronutrient deficiency)in addition to macronutrient excess which results in metabolic syndrome(obesity,diabetes,hypertension etc), this all leads to low level chronic inflamation and oxidative stress which now being strongly associated to a number of disorders ranging from cancer to alzhiemers. By focusing our diet on nutrient dense foods outlined in the CFG we will meet our requirements for vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals(very important antioxidents)and also meet our energy requirements for daily activities(macronutrients). Dr Freedhoff I am currently a student at Mount Royal University in Calgary and I do respect the fact that you are a professional but I find that the education I&#39;m receiving is consistant through a wide range of diciplines including anatomy, exercise physiology and nutrition. These points I&#39;m making are based on evidense based scientific research and I feel that your blog should be more complimentry to this understanding rather than a position of critisism as this only serves to further confuse the public. The CFG might not be perfect but is an excellent guideline to confront the metabolic epidemic our society now faces and I will continue to vigorously defend this position untill science tells me otherwise, not to serve myself or any other special interest group, but to serve the common good and health of our society!!<br /><br />Respectivly<br />Brad H.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-7276822536747033342012-02-01T14:37:49.464-05:002012-02-01T14:37:49.464-05:00I was told by a dietician that it would be unethical of her to discuss any other dietary approach to &quot;healthy eating&quot; than the Canada Food Guide. If this is the case, what are dieticians supposed to do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-9689922583034453822011-09-21T14:13:17.841-04:002011-09-21T14:13:17.841-04:00Oh, Yoni. If only you knew the way the Canada&#39;s Food Guide was being used to mislead already disordered individuals in eating disorder treatment. Maybe you already know.<br /><br />Apparently the best way to cure anorexia is to have the patient eat 7-11 servings of grains, only 5 of fruit and veg, and even less of meats, veg and fat. But wait! Inside a booklet I have, there&#39;s also a recommendation to include fat at every meal (canola oil is rec&#39;d, surprise surprise.) Is it low fat or not? Who knows!<br /><br />Don&#39;t misunderstand -- in this case, anyone underweight SHOULD gain weight and broaden their food choices. No question. And the body does need a higher amount of calories to repair after severe starvation if that is the case. But I&#39;m dismayed at the things I&#39;m hearing dieticians tell patients. Have Fudgesicles and count it as a dairy?!?? wtf! And don&#39;t count almond milk as a dairy because it&#39;s... made from... almonds. Yeah. Never mind that it has calcium and there are indeed better sources than cows milk for that. Don&#39;t worry, any &quot;allergies&quot; you think you have are either temporary or just made up. <br /><br /> I just don&#39;t understand the logic of questioning *anyone* for eating more fruits and veg in a day and fewer grains (The old carb debate. Duh, you can get carbs from fruits and veg!), yet I see it often in my work. Disordered framework aside, if someone is eating that much and becoming healthier, why tell them what they&#39;re doing is wrong?<br /><br />The food guide, when followed to a t as many dieticians (not just ones specializing in eating disorders) would suggest, is a guide to weight gain. The red tape that binds health care to the government gets tighter every day and it&#39;s difficult to watch. I was wondering if you might be able to blog about the possible pitfalls of advising people to follow the food guide when recovering from an eating disorder. I&#39;d love to hear your take.LER.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-6209763417798811512008-11-12T19:31:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:31:00.000-05:00I agree that there seems to be too much dairy. However, I seem to be the opposite of some people on here on other things. I struggle to get down 4-5 servings of veg per day - the idea of eating more than that just makes me want to gag. I feel gross if I eat too many veggies even though I try to eat as many as I can.<BR/><BR/>I eat whole grains like quinoa and buckwheat and so forth. Wheat bran or whole wheat makes me nauseous all the time though I'm fine with the refined stuff. Go figure.<BR/><BR/>I'm also confused with potatoes - I always considered them to be a starch - as in grains/cereals but some classify them as a vegetable. And where do things like string beans or peas fit in?<BR/><BR/>"On meat, I'm probably in the 2 servings area, though I don't eat meat every day." Don't forget that it's meat and meat substitutes which include nuts and legumes. Seriously - just 4oz a day altogether? WTH? <BR/><BR/>I really wonder sometimes that this one-size-fits-all approach is part of the problem and that different people have different nutritional needs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-42635507022450438182008-11-12T11:42:00.000-05:002008-11-12T11:42:00.000-05:00i believe that the canadian food guide should not have to be shoved into kids minds. They should Teach it in a more choicefull way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-24446836345557030192008-11-01T09:37:00.000-04:002008-11-01T09:37:00.000-04:00Very good summing-up of the deficiencies of the Pyramid. The Big Lobbyists have too much power.<BR/><BR/>BTW, just a *very* small correction-- the possessive form of "it" is "its," without an apostrophe.Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07310361628585249909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-40918408436403392112008-10-26T18:42:00.000-04:002008-10-26T18:42:00.000-04:00I agree with the previous comment. This is a guide and not an individually tailored plan for everyone. I follow many aspects of it and tailor it to my needs. If you are really concerned about your diet, talk to you doctor etc. Concerning the involvement of industry, what did you really expect? I'm not surprised that they were involved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-27931302537625598112008-08-04T20:48:00.000-04:002008-08-04T20:48:00.000-04:00It is meant to be a "Guide" so don't over do it and your article is pretty biased. It does say to eat fish at least 2 times a week. 2 1/2 cups servings of beef(or any other meat or meat substitute) would not really be much and and milk does not have to be drinked as they gave alternatives. It is meant to be a guide to get adequete nutrition and not a "Weight loss plan". Nice site, I guess not slamming the government wouldn't get hits. If you believe the "health industry" good luck. Hey they have a supliement to help me pee better now!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-9513860480961741792008-02-23T22:42:00.000-05:002008-02-23T22:42:00.000-05:00It is wonderful to see others with the same insightfulness.... It took 3 pages through "Google" to find info scrutinizing the "almighty" Food Guide.<BR/>I am a Holistic Nutrition student writing a presentation - where I plan to critique Canada's Food Guide! Thank-you for fighting for the future health of Canadians...<BR/><BR/>JAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-3335119410818713472008-02-20T12:13:00.000-05:002008-02-20T12:13:00.000-05:00Hi there,<BR/>I think this is a good article, but not updated<BR/>Cheers,<BR/>I.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-81199064690042121272008-02-09T18:09:00.000-05:002008-02-09T18:09:00.000-05:00Thank you for this post. I've been looking into the USA's Food Pyramid and was wondering if Canada's Food Guide was as messed up. Clearly it is, and probably due to the same Big Food influences. I can't imagine eating as many grain products as either recommends. I certainly eat far more fruit and vegetables than they recommend. On meat, I'm probably in the 2 servings area, though I don't eat meat every day. I think the most important thing is to avoid food products as discussed at length in recent books by Nina Planck and Michael Pollan. At least you don't have our high fructose corn syrup problem. I've put a lot of effort into making sure our household is eating food instead of food like products. Thanks again.Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08205996047908736740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-83541803998387773292008-01-12T12:50:00.000-05:002008-01-12T12:50:00.000-05:00I work in a continuing care centre and under the new requirements we are legally bound to follow the food guide when compiling our resident menu. (Menu must meet food guide recommendations) Tell me what mobility challenged 85 year old is going to eat all of this every day. I emailed health canada to see if there was a food guide designed for seniors and they insisted that this food guide is appropriate for seniors.<BR/><BR/>Really............ <BR/><BR/>No wonder continuing care costs so much. We are forced to provide and cook all of this food when a very small portion of our resident population actually eats all of it. So much waste.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-27752764635365802562007-12-17T18:57:00.000-05:002007-12-17T18:57:00.000-05:00I just stumbled upon this website and while I have little to add vis a vis the Food Guide, I've recently, as a journalist had dealings with Health Canada. There is something strange going on there which has very little to do with the health of Cdns. For one, you can't talk with a scientist without some official big brother PR person listening. (How honest are they going to be if they want to trash something?) 2) Someone there got a hold of an article I wrote, and had a PR flak call me with a bunch of semantic stupid gooble-de-goop. Mr. Anonymous didn't dispute any of my facts, just tried to manipulate what I should be saying according to him. I told Ms 20-year-old PR flak, if Mr. Anonymous wanted to address any of these issues directly to me, I would be more than happy to discuss them, but I didn't respond to people who were to afraid to talk to me with a name. <BR/><BR/>I think ever since Bovine Growth Hormone and that scandal Health Canada is as responsive to the needs of Canadians as the Tobacco industry is. <BR/><BR/>Personally, after my two little encounters, I have little faith in the organization. After reading this blog, now I KNOW I shouldn't trust them.<BR/><BR/>Muffled in MontrealMuffled in Montrealnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-23304692144388812732007-11-14T12:59:00.000-05:002007-11-14T12:59:00.000-05:00I never cared much about the food guide, I just try to eat the best I can. I rarely eat French Fries, and I haven't had any fast food in a long time as well. I exercise, and I do truly feel more energized when I am able to get a full nights sleep. People do not need a guide as much as they think. If everyone was properly educated about how unhealthy eating effects the body, we wouldn't really need a guide. Though it helps, just know what you are eating. Motivation to eat better, will to follow through, and discipline to make it to the end. If we are to follow the new Food Guide, we may as well trust every false comment made on internet pages! Cheers mate.<BR/><BR/>"What can you do, eyes can only see what is presented to them until they have seen it all." - Marco VetereMarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04820203496257993623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-75888746373392237482007-08-21T13:10:00.000-04:002007-08-21T13:10:00.000-04:00Who in their right mind recommends less fruits and veggies? The guide is a joke.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-32869072877739309792007-02-09T20:09:00.000-05:002007-02-09T20:09:00.000-05:00some of the changes are just plain stupid...Yoni you make me laugh so hard with your comments that i almost crapped myself...thank god because im not getting enough fiber from the guides recommended amount of fiber ie veggies, so im glad something made me move down there!!! <BR/><BR/>later<BR/>shaneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-85135170858693615792007-01-20T12:29:00.000-05:002007-01-20T12:29:00.000-05:00A very interesting and helpful collection of posts. Thanks.wwMilanwww.sindark.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-9498841819848239492006-11-20T11:32:00.000-05:002006-11-20T11:32:00.000-05:00Unfortunately the government is more responsive to the strongest lobbiests and does not necessasrily take care of the greatest interest for the greatest number of its people - who are the largest contributors to Members campaigns? Special interest groups compromise democracy to the detriment to us all. Perhaps it is the governments intention to serve the medical profession by trying to make us sicker!It may be the new guide will be a guide to what not to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-43415202401686050452006-11-14T17:02:00.000-05:002006-11-14T17:02:00.000-05:00Probably a great call on your part.<br /><br />As I've been quoted as saying before, anyone of average height and weight who faithfully follows our current Food Guide (or the proposed version I've seen for the next one) will almost certainly gain weight.Yoni Freedhoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15855979454844538601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-11135095935452210462006-11-14T16:59:00.000-05:002006-11-14T16:59:00.000-05:00It has always been a mystery to me that it is almost impossible for me to eat all the daily servings recommended by Canada's Food Guide and thus long ago I ignored it assuming that the people who compiled it were arithmetically and/or horizontally challenged.<br /><br />Michael.R.Harris...Ottawa.Michael.R.Harriswww.funforkids.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-12919006212981122602006-11-14T14:20:00.000-05:002006-11-14T14:20:00.000-05:00I agree.<br /><br />Certainly none of what I will be discussing is a secret.<br /><br />The fact that the recommendations aren't consistent with best evidence begs to questions either the expertise of those involved OR the influences put to bear on those experts' recommendations.<br /><br />Either way, it's not impressive.Yoni Freedhoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15855979454844538601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19485712.post-84847964481069113632006-11-14T14:16:00.000-05:002006-11-14T14:16:00.000-05:00Hi Yoni,<br />I can't believe some of the proposed changes. I am definitely no expert but its interesting because I just finished reading that new book by Dr. Oz (it was on Oprah), who pretty much says the same thing as you do. So you would think that Health Canada would know what seems to be common research. <br />cheers, Jackie L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com