For me, it’s about the memories that surround food.
The harvest table we sat around as a family growing up, where we met each night to talk about our day, listen to the corny jokes Dad got from Ontario Farmer that week and just have time to be a family together.
This is what I treasure most about food. The nutrition it gives me is secondary. As I learned in my internship placements and am reminded by my patients daily – people eat food not nutrients. That’s where dietitians come in and perhaps why I was so interested in this project.
In some ways, this personal connection we have with food makes it that much harder to change the habits surrounding it. I am amazed at the families’ commitment and also their courage in putting themselves out there to move toward a healthier lifestyle.
Their enthusiasm and willingness to be open to suggestions offered from not only the experts, but also from each other, has made the project so successful. It’s been a pleasure to be part of such a unique and original project.
Hopefully the hard work put forth by all the families in this project will inspire others to take the first step on their own journey to good health and family mealtime memories.
-Beth Charlton, Hamilton Family Health Team