The late British playwright Ken Hill quipped, “Food is your body’s fuel. Without fuel, your body wants to shut down.”

What he missed was the word “proper.” According to the Canada Food Guide, we should, “enjoy a variety of foods from each group every day. Choose lower fat foods more often. Making changes to your eating habits can be a challenge! Start by setting small goals. Reward yourself often with non-food treats for meeting even your smallest goals. Writing down your plans helps to reinforce your commitment. Discussing these goals with someone close to you also helps.”

You can eat responsibly and nutritiously, even on a limited budget, if you have a plan to fuel your body – your most important vehicle. After I had a setback, I frequently met with a clinical dietician to better fuel my body. I thought it would be a journey of strict dieting, avoiding my temptations, and expensive health oriented food only available at specific stores. It was not that at all! We worked out a plan I call “responsible eating.” Yes, that craving for sweet chocolate can hit, but when you responsibly eat you can still partake in that occasional temptation by balancing it out with foods that are beneficial.

Food allergies and reactions are becoming more frequent as we learn to manage our diet correctly, I find the best place to start is with your family doctor’s advice. Another great resource is the Canada Food Guide. You can order a free copy by contacting Health Canada at www.hc-sc.gc.ca. It even recognizes Canada’s cultural diversity with suggestions for adding food from other cultures!

Try to eat a balanced, responsible diet and you will find the benefits to be amazing. With the cultural diversity of our community, the possibilities are endless! Did someone just say gelato from the Italian Centre? Oh yeah, that was my tummy!