Ask a Dietitian

As seen on BCTV February 23/99

The Eating Trends Study, recently completed by the Food Facts Network, examined the extent to which Canadians include or exclude various food groups or categories. After studying over 16,000 people they found that less than 1% say they completely avoid dairy products, fruits and vegetables or grain foods. Only 2.7% completely eliminate meat.

2.7% of Canadians are vegetarian – most being females between the ages of 15 and 25. Unfortunately, many vegetarians simply eliminate animal products without realizing the risks. Often they end up lacking energy, protein, iron, zinc and calcium. Meat is a key source of protein, iron, zinc and vitamins B6 and B12. The iron found in meat is also better absorbed than plant sources of iron. A shocking 70% of Canadian females surveyed did not eat the minimum 2 servings per day of meat or even alternatives recommended for good health. Sixty-six percent of females in the child-bearing years were lacking iron.

Four in five Canadian adult females consume less than 1000 milligrams of calcium per day. Some of this may stem from a belief that milk products are only needed by children.

Health is the main reason for choosing vegetarianism according to the study. But research supports the fact that you don’t have to eat purely plant foods to reap the benefits of a vegetarian diet. In fact, the presence of plant foods in each meal is a more significant health factor than the absence of meat. Lean meat and dairy products still make a key nutritional contribution to the diet.

Watch for the Eating for Energy segment every Tuesday on BCTV’s Noon News Hour!

Article written by Patricia Chuey and reprinted with permission