Wednesday January 26th marks the 12th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day. This year, the purpose of the campaign is to highlight the ways we can support our individual mental health and the mental health of those we care about. These last two years, living through the pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our day to day lives, including our mental health. To better support you in caring for your mental health and that of those close to you, Bell has curated resources which can be accessed here.  Another way you can help mark the day and support ment ..read more

As we close out 2021, our team would like to share some of the most memorable moments and milestones from this past year. We are thankful to you for your support over the years, which has helped to sustain our operations and has made these opportunities possible.  Our top picks from 2021 1. The launch of our Connected Insider subscription. After the funding for health promotion centres came to an end in Ontario in 2018, our team was fortunate to receive support from the Helderleigh Foundation. Though this support was felt in numerous areas, one major service we were able to ..read more

Author: Erika Martin, Dietetic Intern at Nutrition Connections July 24th marked International Self-Care Day. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced Self-Care Month (June 24th to July 24th) to highlight the importance of self-care to both individuals and the health care system. This makes it the perfect time to think about improving our self-care, which can help reduce stress and promote well-being1. This practice looks different for everyone, whether it means taking some ex ..read more

In their new book Food to Grow On, Sarah Remmer and Cara Rosenbloom, both registered dietitians (and moms!) tell you everything you need to know about pregnancy and nutrition in early childhood. This witty, easy-to-navigate book turns evidence-based research into practical information to help you and your child(ren) thrive. Covering pregnancy to age 6, this acts as a handbook that you can refer to time and time again, leaving no nutrition question unanswered.   Sarah and Cara begin by describing how to navigate through chapters, which is so helpful for any bu ..read more

Author: Marissa Lustri, MPH, RD, Program Assistant at Nutrition Connections National Indigenous History Month, begun in 2009, and was created as a month-long awareness campaign every June, to encourage Canadians to learn about Indigenous history, cultures and issues facing Indigenous peoples across the country1. This year, Canada has dedicated National Indigenous History Month to the missing children, their families, and residential school survivors2. It has been devastating to learn about the recent discoveries at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, and at the Brandon ..read more

Author: Marissa Lustri, MPH, RD, Program Assistant at Nutrition Connections On May 16th, you may notice certain iconic landmarks (like the CN Tower) have a green light shining on them1. This is because May 16th is internationally recognized as Celiac Awareness Day and is part of a larger month-long campaign shining light on the seriousness of this disease1. Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease that impacts approximately 1 in 100 people across the globe2. When an individual with celiac disease consumes gluten, their body’s immune system recognizes the gluten protein as a threat and at ..read more

Author: Caitlin Butt, MScFN, Program Assistant at Nutrition Connections What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? IBS is a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by impaired gut function and increased nerve sensitivity.  IBS is fairly common, with 13-20% of Canadians suffering chronically1. The symptoms of IBS can interfere with a person’s physical and mental well being, quality of life, and productivity. The cause of IBS is unclear, as it is a multifactorial disorder that likely involves an interaction between the GI tract, bacteria in the gut, the nervous system, and external f ..read more

It’s March again, and that means it’s Nutrition Month! This year’s theme, ‘Good for you! Dietitians help you find your healthy!’, led by Dietitians of Canada, highlights the role registered dietitians play in providing nutritional support and guidance to their clients utilizing client centered care. This year to celebrate Nutrition Month, our team at Nutrition Connections wanted to highlight the dietitians in our community who work to support their patients, clients and communities find their healthy. Here are their stories! For professional resources, a recipe e-book, and more, visit Nutritio ..read more

Black History Month is a time to celebrate and continue to educate ourselves on the rich history and culture of Black Canadians. Rather than write a celebratory piece, we wanted to draw attention to systemic racism and what that means for public health and the field of nutrition. If you are reading this, you likely have a connection to the health field, or hope to in the future. We point this out because the courses required to pursue this career path often include teachings about the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). In your learnings did you ever reflect on why and how race/racism i ..read more

Author: Sandy Maxwell, RD, Senior Nutrition Policy and Program Analyst at Nutrition Connections Since February is Heart Month, our team at Nutrition Connections wanted to highlight Health Canada’s new Voluntary Sodium Reduction Targets for Processed Foods 2020-2025, which was released on December 18, 2020. These new targets build on the 2012-2016 targets, which aimed to reduce Canadians’ sodium intake levels to a maximum of 2300 mg/day. Through research and evaluation, Health Canada found that “Canadians, particularly children, teens and males, are still eating too much sodium” as they continu ..read more