LITTLE CURRENT—A healthy diet is the foundation for a healthy life and Noojmowin Teg Health Centre Child Nutrition Coordinator Cody Leeson opened his organization’s Recipe for a Healthy Nutrition Conference at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre with remarks that focussed on that foundation.
Following Mr. Leeson’s remarks, elder Evelyn Roy delivered an opening prayer. First Nations’ traditional culture and spirituality has always recognized the important role that food plays in people’s lives and tradition sees thanks given to the spirits of both plants and animals who supply their bodies for our sustenance.
Following the opening ceremonies, Noojmowin Teg Health Centre Registered Dietician Crystal Morra delivered a workshop entitled ‘From Food Fights to Dinner Dance: Tips for Positive Meals.’ Participants learned the principles of a healthy mealtime environment, how Evelyn Satter’s ‘Division of responsibility’ relates to infants, toddlers and adolescents and where to find more information.
Following the first nutrition break, Registered Dietician Sabrina Legault spoke on ‘The Most Delicious Epidemic: Effects of Media and Advertising on Dietary Habits.’ Her presentation focussed on the effects of the media and food advertising on people’s dietary habits. She provided a review of the research on how to diet “the right way” and attempted to remove some of the stigma attached to that word, diet.
Following a delicious and healthy lunch served up by the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre catering service, Six Nations of the Grand River registered dietician Teri Morrow brought the ‘Ogawa: Daogenhsdoh: It aligns our Body; Food, Water and Medicine’ workshop. Currently working with the Assembly of First Nations National Food Nutrient and Environment Study in First Nations across Canada, her presentation discussed the roles and responsibilities surrounding food in their family and the barriers to traditional food sovereignty and food security and how to recognize current health disparities indigenous families face.
“We also explored how food sovereign families can help rebuild indigenous food ways,” said Ms. Morrow. The goal is to evoke “empowerment at the family level supported by community programmers to envelope a sustainable traditional food system that our children will embrace, seven generations to come.”
The FoodShare Toronto crew of Carolynne Crawley and Meredith Hayes closed out the conference with their presentation, ‘Say Yes to Healthy Food.’ Their presentation called out to caregivers to discuss the roles and responsibilities surrounding food in their families. The FoodShare folks provided “hands on strategies that have proven children and youth want to and will say yes to eating good, healthy food.”
