For Immediate Release
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Revised Canada Food Guide, opportunity to bring better food to hospitals
The Nourish Initiative, a national collaborative project that explores opportunities for improved food in health care, welcomes the revisions to the Canadian Food Guide as a step in the right direction. The following Nourish experts, all members of the Nourish network of innovators, are available to comment on the revised Canada Food Guide:
Marianne Katusin, Manager, Food Services, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Halton Healthcare, Ontario
“We’ve always utilized Canada Food Guide to assist with menu planning, and I think this shift to move towards less processed foods and more plant-based proteins will benefit us as hospitals explore in-house scratch cooking, and shift away from outsourcing.” — Marianne Katusin
Katusin has worked in the healthcare food service for 30 years and can speak to how hospitals can follow the revised Guide’s recommendation to move away from processed foods.
Phone: (905) 845-2571 ext. 2043 | Cell: (905) 330-1115
Email: mkatusin@haltonhealthcare.on.ca
Annie Marquez, Registered Dietician & Manager of Menu Management and Nutritional Information System, CIUSSS Centre-Sud-de-l’ile-de-Montréal, Québec
“I am happy that the new guide will help healthcare transition to and model more plant-based diets. We hope to be the leader in transitioning to more plant-based proteins that has benefits for the health of the patient and the planet.” — Annie Marquez
Marquez has experience in bringing plant-based menu items into hospital food service.
Phone: 514 376-3748 (Mon-Fri, 7AM to 5PM)
514 528-2477 (evening and weekend)
Email: medias.ccsmtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Stephanie Cook, Director of Nutrition and Food Services, Regina, Saskatchewan
“When people are hospitalized they need food that is tasty, wholesome and familiar. The new Canada Food Guide recognizes that healthy eating is more than the foods you eat, food has an important role in providing comfort, showing we care and contribute to healing.” — Stephanie Cook
Cook has experience in embracing the cultural dimensions of food, including introducing traditional foods into patient menus, in consultation with local Indigenous community members.
Phone: (306) 766-8640
Email: Stephanie.Cook@saskhealthauthority.ca
Nourish Media Contact
From Haida Gwaii to Gander, Nourish works alongside a network of healthcare innovators leading food projects in healthcare institutions that reflect the revised recommendations. From increasing plant-based diets to reducing reliance on processed foods and recognizing the connections between food, culture and health, these innovators have direct on the ground experience relevant to the evolving national dialogue on Canada’s Food Guide.
For more information on Nourish’s take on the changed recommendations, please see our blog.
Cheryl Hsu
Communications Strategist/Nourish Design Researcher
Phone: 647-833-0277
Email: cheryl@nourishhealthcare.ca
Jennifer Reynolds
Program Manager, Food Secure Canada
Phone: 438-401-1301
Email: institutions@foodsecurecanada.org