Final 2018 Nutrition Month column

Today is my final Nutrition Month 2018 column. Thank you to those who have taken an interest and also to readers who took the time to email me. I hope you learned an interesting nutrition or food fact or that you may stop to question the source of something you hear or read about in the future. I am disappointed to share that one of the most trustworthy sources of consumer nutrition information, the EatRight Ontario service, will no longer be funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. As of today, EatRight Ontario dietitians won't be available to respond to your questions by phone or email. The EatRight Ontario website, which I have often cited and provided links to, will remain open for now.

The landscape of traditional mealtimes is rapidly changing; Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, a professor of food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University, led a cross-sectional Canadian survey that found meals are becoming a "lonely institution." Canadians are increasingly foregoing home cooked meals for quicker, ready-to-eat foods or restaurant meals. Almost 40% of Canadians eat lunch at their desks and 42% said they don’t have time to cook during the week. Canadians, and women especially, are skipping more meals and the majority of us often eat alone, especially at breakfast and lunch. Food provides more than just energy and nutrients. Eating is a rich and meaningful experience that brings family and friends together to share every day conversation and celebrate special events. Food has even more power to enrich our lives when it is shared with others. Until next March, bon appétit!