On Tuesday, the federal government announced proposed changes to food labelling with an aim for us to make healthier choices at the supermarket.
The proposed changes would make it easier for us to read those labels, Health Canada says, and include tweaks to the Nutrition Facts table, ingredients list and Daily Values on food labels, as well as a nudge to suppliers of similar food products to use consistent serving sizes for the nutrition info on those labels.
Health Canada is hoping that if and when these changes go into effect, busy parents will look twice before grabbing for the Fruit Loops.
That's because the new labels would have sugars grouped together and nutrition info would be presented more clearly.
The Canadian Diabetes Association applauds the ministry's efforts. So does Dietitians of Canada.
And while we, too, applaud the effort, we think it's important to note that healthy choices start before we wheel our shopping cart down the grocerystore aisle.
It starts with meal planning and cooking from scratch rather than grab-and-go meals from a fast food outlet. It starts with walking to the corner grocer for a carton of milk instead of taking the car.
It starts with sending our kids to the park to play rather than allowing endless hours of screen time indoors.
Easier-to-read food labels are good.
But costly consultations, policy papers and regulations won't end obesity or curtail the continued rise of diabetes.
Healthy choices start with changing what has become for all of us a culture of convenience.
