March is Nutrition Month, a time to focus on eating well and getting healthier. Let's all do it together by participating in the FNHA's “Food is Medicine" Wellness campaign! Part of the fun will be encouraging others to eat well by sharing photos and stories on social media. When you share your photo be sure to tag the FNHA on Facebook and Instagram! If you do you could win an Instant Pot, air fryer or cookbook!
The Food is Medicine campaign focuses on the wholistic well-being of Indigenous people of all ages, from all communities in BC. Throughout the month of March, learn more about whole and traditional foods, how to cook different nutritious recipes to share with friends and family, and how connecting with the land and community supports our mind, body and spirit.
In our Indigenous cultures, we learn through the incredible teachings that our Elders provide, and also from listening to and learning from our youth – their thoughts, perspectives, hopes, dreams, and teachings are good medicine to carry with us.
As a part of the Food is Medicine campaign, we would like to highlight teachings from of one of our youth leaders: Jordanna Roesler, of the Dene First Nation.
Jordanna is a final-year UBC medical student. She is passionate about preventative medicine and culturally safe and inclusive care. Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and swimming.
I encourage all First Nations youth in BC to participate in the FNHA's “Food is Medicine" campaign! As a medical student and soon-to-be-physician, I know that healthy eating is essential to fuelling not only our bodies, but our minds and spirits.
To me, “food is medicine" means being mindful of the ongoing relationship between food and our mind, body, and spirit. I like to practise self-care through eating healthy and spending quality time over meals. Some examples include cooking together with family or friends, making traditional meals, or having some of our favorite foods as a treat. Some of my favorite memories revolve around preparing and sharing meals with my family and friends!
It can be difficult to balance meeting our nutritional needs with a busy schedule. Some ways that I have maintained healthy eating during busy times include meal prepping for the week or purchasing frozen vegetables and fruit, which can be stored longer. This lets me get the nutrients I need to keep me going during long, busy weeks.
I also try to be mindful by balancing my intake of carbohydrates with added sources of fats and protein. Some days, this can look like oatmeal with yogurt and berries or root vegetables with salmon. I try to be aware of my macronutrient needs (carbohydrates, fat and protein) so that I can eat a well-rounded diet full of variety. By being aware of my individual body's needs, I can maintain healthy eating in a way that I also find sustainable and enjoyable.
Food is powerful and it is important to make the best food decisions we can for our overall health. Maintaining our intake of well-balanced, nutrient-rich foods plays an important role in preventative medicine and helps us to stay healthy and strong. Talk to your health care professional if you're interested in healthy eating and learning more about what might work best for you. Food is medicine!
