Community Nutrition

Question 1

What is the public health approach?

Answer 1

• Seeks to expose a broad segment of a population to prevention measures, so as to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong quality life at a population level

Question 2

What is the implication of health equity?

Answer 2

• Some groups with more risk factors may need a more targeted approach
• Ex. middle-aged males might need more action to encourage healthy eating

Question 3

What influences food and drink choices?

Answer 3

• Influenced by a variety of factors
• Some are dependent on personal choice and preference
• Others are more system level and should be shifted by public health
• Poor housing, inadequate income can result in food insecurity
• Food insecurity, food waste, and food instability are more challenging to change

Question 4

What is the ecological framework?

Answer 4

Individual factors (lifestyle, demographics, biological) → social environments (family, friends, peers) → physical environments (neighborhood, community, supermarket, home) → macro-level environments (food/agriculture policies, land use, food marketing, government, cultural norms)
- we want to change policies at the macro-level

Question 5

What are three ways Canada is implementing a healthy eating strategy?

Answer 5

1) Eliminating trans fat from all food
2) Developing a symbol to place on products that are high in sodium or saturated fat
3) Prohibit unhealthy food marketing to children under 13

Question 6

What is nutritionism?

Answer 6

• The concept that one type of nutrient existing in a food is sufficient to make it healthy
• Example - vitamins in vitamin water, whole grain and zinc in lucky charms and teddy grahams, despite the sugar level - people misled to believe these are healthy

Question 7

What is Hamilton’s food strategy?

Answer 7

• Evaluating food concerns in the population
• Making it relevant for everyone
• Identifying issues and uniting them
• 10-year strategy - 14 recommendations and 46 actions
• System-wide approaches
• Support local agriculture and local foods
• Ensure access to healthy food for everyone
• Enhance food literacy about healthy eating

Question 8

What is the recreation food and beverage action plan?

Answer 8

• Trying to reduce non-nutritious food options and increase healthy options (ex. sugary drinks)
• Selling reusable water bottles
• Increase use of tap water

Question 9

What is the traffic light approach?

Answer 9

• Will be used to market food items and signify healthier options

Question 10

What is the city doing to promote healthy eating in schools?

Answer 10

• Public health nurses in school express concerns
• Help come up with action plans for things like food
• Quality of food, safe eating spaces, atmosphere all must be considered
• Project with Catholic school board - worked with chef to develop action plan, demonstrated instruction to kids as how to cook
• Selling more local foods and more vegetables and fruits in the “fresh from the farm” program

Question 11

What is one idea that would benefit people of low SES and thus decrease food insecurity?

Answer 11

• Encouraging people to file their taxes

Question 12

What are key considerations when promoting healthy eating?

Answer 12

• Set aside personal values and biases, look at objective data
• Recommendations informed by local context
• Ensure apprach doesn’t cause any unintended negative consequences
• Stigma - sometimes nutrition programs are not seen as universal, they can be seen as selective for disadvantaged individuals
• Correct misconceptions
• Communicate barriers to those who can take action, or drive change yourself
• Ensure policies are being practiced and supported