Five A Day

Did you know only half of Canadian doctors get the recommended 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day?

Be a role model for healthy eating and being active.

According to a recent survey, only 43% of Canadians eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.  Physicians are doing slightly better than this, but there is still significant room for improvement. Physician nutrition is especially important as the health behaviors of doctors significantly influence their counseling practices. Doctors with better personal eating habits are more likely to counsel their patients about proper nutrition, and their counseling is also more likely to be effective. 

But there’s more you can do by being a role model to your patients and community by also promoting healthy living by participating in the Be Active Every Day event.

Along with BC doctor and NASA astronaut Robert Thirsk, and the BCMA’s Council on Health Promotion, be part of Be Active Every Day, the event that challenges kids to be active one hour each day from April 10 to May 10 – international Move for Health Day. The BCMA is asking physicians for a few hours of their time to coordinate with their neighbourhood school and teach primary aged children the 5-2-1-0 healthy living message:

• 5  Fruits and vegetables per day
• 2  Hours of screen time per day
• 1  Hour of physical activity per day
• 0  Sugar sweetened drinks per day

To learn more about how you can be an ambassador to your local school and teach healthy behaviours click here or contact Erica Timmerman at View Email Addressetimmerman@bcma.bc.ca.

Resources

Download our Eating Healthy on a Budget pamphlet for patients or contact Leah Caldwell at View Email Addresslcaldwell@bcma.bc.cato order printed copies.

Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php.