Celebrating World Food Day ... every day
World Food Day is October 16th, is an annual day to create awareness around healthy food sources, world hunger, and education on how to make healthy food choices.
This year I spent World Food Day educating elementary school students about the importance of preserving their own food, especially in light of climate change. Many of the students had heard of Greta Thunberg and knew that climate change would affect them - most thinking they were going to burn up in flames or drown when the seas claim the land.
They didn’t yet have a grasp on how climate change could affect their everyday lives, especially their food security.
Most of the students I teach have access to an adequate diet of healthy whole foods. This is important as Canada is one of the few industrialized nations that does not have a national school food program. In addition, according to Food Secure Canada, ¼ of the calories consumed by students are not foods recommended in Canada’s Food Guide. Fast foods, processed foods, high sugar foods can sometimes dominate our plates due to busy schedules, job demands, and access to affordable choices.
Teaching students to grow food in their school garden and at home, can help bridge gaps in ensuring students have access to a balanced diet, while helping them grow skills to become more independent, creating a more Food Secure community.
Let’s learn from Greta Thunberg - one voice, a choice, sharing the message can make a difference.
Although World Food Day has passed for this year, let’s make a commitment to change, to work towards 2019’s “Our Actions Are Our Future. Healthy Diets for a #ZeroHunger World” As FAO website states, achieving Zero Hunger in not only about addressing world hunger, but also nourishing people , while nurturing the planet.
We can work together to make change happen!
Choose to be a voice of change and pick from the list below. Let us know how you are doing!
Exercise your democratic right and have a say on Food Security: As World Food Day coincides with our Federal Election, we are sharing Food Secure Canada’s Eat Think Vote Campaign link. Federal Parties answered a questionnaire about where they stand on food issues. There is also a link to each party’s platform at the bottom of their page.
Visit your local Farmers’ Market: Markets reconnect people with the land and the people who grow their food. When you visit a market, you meet the people who help sustain you and your community and help contribute to more than $15 million in direct and indirect benefits to the local and regional economy. For those in, or near Vancouver Canada, check out https://eatlocal.org/ for markets near you. https://eatlocal.org/vendors/in-season/ has a list of foods in season.
Choose wisely: Each day we make choices about when, how much, and what to eat. Support your body in order to have a strong immune system, and physical and mental agility no matter your age. Choose whole foods, fresh foods, and local foods. Choose to buy food from your local farmers and/or choose food not grown with pesticides.
Grow your own: Whether it’s a sunny window, a small balcony, a community garden, or your own backyard you can choose to grow your own. Herbs such as parsley and cilantro, are easy for indoors all year long. Lettuces and greens such as kale and swiss chard do well on a balcony. If the balcony is south facing try tomatoes and basil! With your own plot or community garden the choices can be limitless. Start with Garlic before the end of October and you will never buy from the grocery store again (you’re welcome). Visit West Coast Seeds for information on how and when to start growing easy crops. Check out their Planning 101 for beginners.
Be prepared: We hear a lot about the Big One on the Pacific West Coast. Many of us have emergency kits in our cars and bins in our homes. When you next check your emergency kit, add in a Garden Seed Bank. It’s a collection of organic, non-GMO, non-hybrid, heirloom/heritage seeds. Good for 3-5 years, these can provide your community with the means to grow your own food. The varieties work for most climates in North America and you can keep them for an emergency or use them next season to start your very own garden - even if it’s just on a balcony.
Share the message: Use social media to share your ideas and spread the word of others. Post videos, stories, and photos of you and your community.
Be inspired/Inspire: Follow organizations and join groups who are changemakers and create positive dialogue around nourishing people and nurturing the planet:
Core Potentials Group (Yup, that’s us - we’re awesome),
Eden Energy Group (dedicated to exploring how to work with the body’s energies and take charge of one’s own health and healing),
CBC: Waves of Change Group (dedicated to reducing the rate we discard single-use plastics),
Zero Waste Vancouver Group (zero waste, food waste, food education, sustainability),
Farm to School BC (network that promotes, supports and links Farm to School activity, policy, and programs across BC),
Food Secure Canada (pan-Canadian alliance of organizations and individuals working together to advance food security and food sovereignty).
Check out The Coalition for Healthy School Food for more information on creating a more Food Secure Canada.