March is Nutrition Month and the dietitians at the Grey Bruce Health Unit are focusing on the theme "More than Food."
A dietetic student with the health unit, Hannah Cassidy, said the concept comes from recommendations in the latest Canada Food Guide.
"Being mindful of your eating habits, cooking more often, eating with others, and enjoying your food," Cassidy explained.
A healthy diet and lifestyle can benefit more than just your waistline.
"There are plenty of studies that show that children that eat with their families have higher academic performance particularly in maths and english," Public health dietitian Laura Needham said. "And they are also seeing lower risk of different chronic diseases and mental health issues like depression."
Cassidy said unhealthy eating costs everyone.
"Unhealthy eating actually costs the Ontario health system $5.6 billion dollars annually," she said. "So we're hoping that awareness campaigns like Nutrition Month can get people the information they need to make those healthy diet and eating choices."
