New Canadian Dietary Guidelines Emphasize Healthy Habits

New dietary guidelines released in Canada this week emphasize healthy habits, cooking more often and eating more plant-based proteins. The new Food Guide also recommends eating plenty of vegetables and fruits and choosing whole grains and water. The guidelines encourage cooking more often, being mindful of eating habits and eating meals with others. Protein Canadians are encouraged to eat a variety of protein and specifically to choose foods that come from plants more often. “Plant-based protein foods can provide more fibre and less saturated fat than other types of protein foods. This can be beneficial for your heart health,” according to the Guide. To meet nutritional needs, large amounts of protein foods are not necessary, the Guide says. It recommends eggs, lean cuts of beef, pork and wild game, and turkey and chicken, along with nuts and seeds, fish and shellfish, lower fat dairy products, beans, peas and lentils, and soy product. The guidelines also advise limiting highly processed foods and preparing meals and snacks using ingredients that have little to no added sodium, sugars or saturated fat.