RECOGNITION
RECONNAISSANCE
Excellence in Consumer Nutrition Communication/
Hommage a l'excellence en communication nutritionelle
The Speaking of Food and Eating Award was created by Dietitians of Canada and Kraft Canada Inc. to honour and
encourage collaborative initiatives that promote clear, reliable, credible nutrition information to Canadians.
Congratulations to this year's award recipients.
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WINNER
Region 5 - Northeastern Ontario & Quebec
Program: The Diabetes Food Guide to Healthy Eating
Organization: Centretown Community Health Centre, Ottawa, ON
The Challenge
Diabetes is quickly becoming a national crisis. It is estimated that over 2 million Canadians have diabetes -- and close to half of them don't even know it (Canadian Diabetes Association, 2002).
Research shows that type 2 diabetes and related complications can be minimized - and even prevented - through healthy eating and active living. Many people living with type 2 diabetes haven't adopted healthy practices because information seems too complicated, difficult to apply, or culturally inappropriate.
The Program
In an effort to ensure that Canadians with type 2 diabetes have access to clear, accurate and culturally sensitive nutrition information, the Centretown Community Health Centre of Ottawa developed The Diabetes Food Guide to Healthy Eating. It is a simple, colourful, nutrition education tool for Canadians living with type 2 diabetes. The guide follows the principles of Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and the food rainbow graphic. Recommended servings and portion sizes are provided for each food group. The guide can be used as a simple "follow-the-rainbow" approach, as well as in a more complex meal-planning and carbohydrate-counting system. The Diabetes Food Guide to Healthy Eating is available in English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese. An English version was also tailored for the Aboriginal population.
The Partners
The Guide was developed by the Centretown Community Health Centre in collaboration with the Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres of Ottawa. The participation of dietitians and nurses from the various community health centres in the coalition was integral to the successful development of the guide. The Ministry of Public Works and Government Services approved the adaptation of Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating, and The North West Company gave permission to adapt The Northern Food Guide.
The Results
The Diabetes Food Guide has been used in over 155 Diabetes Education Programs in the Ottawa/Hull area and more than 200 locations across Canada. To date, distribution of the Guide totals more than 50,000 copies.
The Details
The Diabetes Food Guide to Healthy Eating is available for purchase ($25 for 50 copies; make your cheque payable to Centretown Community Health Centre). Mail your request, with your return address, to the Community-based Diabetes Education Program, Centretown Community Health Centre, 420 Cooper Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 2N6.
Contact: Cindy Sass, RD, CDE
Telephone: (819) 778-1933
E-mail: csass@magma.ca
Region 1 - British Columbia
Program: Bone Zone - Messages for Anyone With Bones
Organization: B.C. Ministry of Health, Victoria, B.C.
The Challenge
Teenagers often think of bone health as strictly an older people's issue. The preteen and teen years, however, are the most critical time for building bones. In fact, maximum bone mass in the hip and spine is achieved before age 20. Eating calcium-rich foods and participating in regular activity throughout the teen years are necessary to achieve the strongest bones possible and to set the stage for long-term bone health. In addition, research shows that teenage girls, particularly those who are underweight or dieting to lose weight, are not getting enough calcium.
The Program
The Bone Zone is a video and teacher's guide that provides a fresh approach for educators to help preteens and teens take an in-depth look at how to build healthy bones through regular activity and an adequate intake of calcium. The video includes three humorous vignettes: The Bone Bank introduces the concept of building bones through adequate calcium intake; Skeleton in the Closet provides information about nutrition, physical activity and bone health; and Bone-Building Olympics helps students make the connection between their daily food choices and bone health. The teacher's guide also includes a collection of follow-up activities for students in grades five to eight.
The Partners
The Bone Zone resources were produced by the B.C. Ministry of Health Planning, in partnership with the B.C. Dairy Foundation; the Knowledge Network, a division of the Open Learning Agency, and the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, B.C. Division.
The Results
Bone Zone was distributed to 60 school district curriculum resources centres and 50 public health units in British Columbia. A copy of the video and teacher's guide was also distributed to 15 Osteoporosis Society of Canada outreach groups in B.C. A promotional flyer/order form was sent to all 2,000 grade six teachers in BC. The program has received tremendous feedback from educators throughout the province and has generated strong interest in other provinces.
The Details
Copies of Bone Zone are available at a cost of $15 (payable to the B.C. Dairy Foundation). Mail your request to the B.C. Dairy Foundation, 3236 Beta Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 4K4. Be sure to specify that you wish to order Bone Zone, and include your address. For further information, contact a nutrition educator at (604) 294-3775 or toll-free at 1-800-242-6455. You can also check out http://www.bcdf.org.
Contact: Lisa Forster-Coull, RDN
Telephone: (250) 952-1124
E-mail: lisa.forstercoull@gems8.gov.bc.ca
Region 2 - Alberta & Territories
Program: The Nutrition File(R) For Television
Organization: Alberta Milk, Edmonton, AB
The Challenge
Each year, tens of thousands of Canadians are diagnosed with diabetes and many more are treated for the disease and related complications (Canadian Diabetes Association, 2002). The results of mismanaging diabetes include heart disease and stroke, blindness, amputations, kidney disease, pneumonia, flu and even death. Healthy lifestyle attitudes and behaviours are the most influential factors in preventing diabetes and complications resulting from it. However, awareness of the disease among the public is quite low and the relationship between lifestyle choices, such as nutrition and physical activity, and the prevalence and progression of this potentially deadly disease is poorly understood.
The Program
Recognizing that education is key to preventing the anticipated growth of diabetes in Canada, Alberta Milk developed The Nutrition File(R) for Television as a vehicle to increase awareness of diabetes and provide Albertans with tools to make healthy lifestyle changes. The Nutrition File(R) for Television, a series of ten public service announcements (PSAs), focuses on the link between healthy living and preventing diabetes. Topics include active living, balanced nutrition, disease prevention and healthy body weight. Each 30-second PSA encourages healthy eating and active living as a means of preventing chronic diseases. The information is based on Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living. A consumer fact sheet reinforces practical strategies for implementing lifestyle changes and a website (http://nutritionfile.ca) further supports the program. Alberta Milk's toll-free telephone number and the Nutrition File website were featured in all PSAs and provided a call-to-action for viewers to obtain additional information. The PSAs were distributed to obtain additional sion (Edmonton) and CFCN Television (Calgary). Airtime information. The PSAs were distributed to guarantee placement.
The Partners
The Nutrition File(R) for Television forged links between diabetes interest groups and nutrition and active living specialists in the community. Health Canada and Alberta Milk were the funding partners. The Canadian Diabetes Association, Alberta Health and Wellness and the Alberta Centre for Well-being provided information on current strategies, approaches and recommendations for risk reduction. White Iron Productions, CFRN Television and CFCN Television also contributed to the project.
The Results
During the 14 days over which The Nutrition File(R) for Television aired in Alberta, the total audience reach was 4,093,800 Albertans. The website recorded 8,500 hits and 1,700 visitor sessions. Consumer calls were fielded by the registered dietitians at Alberta Milk and requests for the consumer fact sheet continued well after the program went off-air.
The Details
