Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research 

About: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research is an academic journal published by Dietitians of Canada. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Health care. It has an ISSN identifier of 1486-3847. Over the lifetime, 692 publications have been published receiving 9112 citations. The journal is also known as: Dietetic practice and research & Pratique et ... recherche en diététique.

Processed and ultra-processed food products: consumption trends in Canada from 1938 to 2011.

Abstract: Purpose A classification of foods based on the nature, extent, and purpose of industrial food processing was used to assess changes in household food expenditures and dietary energy availability between 1938 and 2011 in Canada. Methods Food acquisitions from six household food budget surveys (1938/1939 , 1953, 1969, 1984, 2001, and 2011) were classified into unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, and ready-to-consume processed or ultra-processed products. Contributions of each group to household food expenditures, and to dietary energy availability (kcal per capita) were calculated. Results During the period studied, household expenditures and dietary energy availability fell for both unprocessed or minimally processed foods and culinary ingredients, and rose for ready-to-consume products. The caloric share of foods fell from 34.3% to 25.6% and from 37% to 12.7% for culinary ingredients. The share of ready-to-consume products rose from 28.7% to 61.7%, and the increase wa...

Food Literacy: Definition and Framework for Action.

Abstract: The term food literacy is emergent, and as a result the literature reflects a great variety of definitions. Simultaneously, new research and food literacy programming is being developed without an agreed upon definition of what food literacy is and how food skills, food security, and health literacy may fit with the definition. We undertook a scoping review and conceptual analysis to identify how the term is understood and to determine shared components of definitions. We found that although most definitions included a nutrition and food skills component, there was great variation in how the ability to access, process, and enjoy food was affected by our complex food system. We propose a definition of food literacy that includes the positive relationship built through social, cultural, and environmental experiences with food enabling people to make decisions that support health. We offer a framework that situates food literacy at the intersection between community food security and food skills, and we asse...

Promoting optimal monitoring of child growth in Canada: using the new WHO growth charts.

Abstract: Growth monitoring and promotion of optimal growth are essential components of primary health care for infants and children. Serial measurements of weight, height/length for all children, and head circumference for infants and toddlers, compared with the growth of a large sample population of children depicted on a selected growth chart help to confirm a child’s healthy growth and development. It also allows early identification of potential nutritional or health problems and enables prompt action before a child’s health is seriously compromised. To date, growth charts have described the growth of their sample population regardless of whether that growth is ideal or not. The release of new, improved growth charts from the World Health Organization (WHO) has prompted a re-examination of existing recommendations for assessing the growth of Canadian children. The optimal growth displayed in the WHO Growth Standards for infants and preschool children represents the prescribed gold standard for children’s growth. The newly constructed growth charts for older children have also been updated and improved to reflect optimal growth. The 2006 WHO Child Growth Standards for children (birth to five years) and the WHO Growth Reference 2007 (for children and adolescents (5 -19 years) are now recommended for the assessment of growth of Canadian children based on this review by Dietitians of Canada, Canadian Paediatric Society, The College of Family Physicians of Canada and Community Health Nurses of Canada. This statement presents recommendations and the rationale for implementation of both sets of the WHO growth charts for monitoring the growth of individual children. It is intended for use as a practice guideline to assist medical practitioners and allied health professionals to provide evidence-informed, consistent care. RÉSUMÉ La surveillance de la croissance et la promotion d’une croissance optimale constituent des éléments essentiels des soins de santé primaires pour les nourrissons et les enfants. La comparaison des mesures sérielles de poids et de taille/longueur chez tous les enfants et du périmètre de la tête chez tous les nourrissons et toutpetits à une courbe de croissance choisie qui illustre la croissance d’un important groupe échantillon composé d’enfants peut aider à confirmer la croissance et le développement sains d’un enfant. Une telle comparaison permet également de dépister de manière précoce des problèmes de santé ou des problèmes nutritionnels potentiels et de réagir rapidement, avant que la santé d’un enfant ne soit gravement compromise. Jusqu’à présent, les courbes de croissance décrivaient la croissance de leur groupe échantillon, peu importe s’il s’agissait d’un profil de croissance idéal ou non. Or, la publication de nouvelles courbes de croissance améliorées par l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) a entraîné une révision des recommandations existantes pour l’évaluation de la croissance des enfants canadiens. En effet, la croissance optimale présentée dans les normes OMS de croissance pour les nourrissons et pour les enfants d’âge préscolaire constitue la norme or en matière de croissance des enfants. Par ailleurs, les courbes de croissance pour les enfants plus âgés, qui avaient été conçues récemment, ont également été mises à jour et améliorées afin de refléter la croissance optimale. Les diététistes du Canada, la Société canadienne de pédiatrie, le Collège des médecins de famille du Canada et l’Association canadienne des infirmières et infirmiers en santé communautaire ont procédé à une revue de la littérature, et les normes OMS de croissance de l’enfant 2006 pour les enfants (de la naissance et à 5 ans) et les références OMS de croissance 2007 (pour les enfants et adolescents de 5 à 19 ans) sont maintenant recommandées pour évaluer la croissance des enfants canadiens. La présente déclaration décrit les recommandations et l’argumentaire relatifs à l’implantation des deux types de courbes de croissance OMS pour surveiller la croissance des enfants sur une base individuelle. Cette déclaration devrait être utilisée à titre de ligne directrice de pratique dans le but d’aider les médecins praticiens et le personnel paramédical à fournir des soins cohérents et fondés sur des données probantes. 2010. All rights reserved. DIETITIANS OF CANADA AND © 2010. All rights reserved. CANADIAN PAEDIATRIC SOCIETY COLLABORATIVE STATEMENT: USING THE NEW WHO GROWTH CHARTS

Gluten-Free and Regular Foods: A Cost Comparison

Abstract: Purpose: The treatment of celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet for life. This diet is assumed to be more expensive, although no studies confirm this assumption. In the current study, the prices of gluten-free foods and regular (gluten-containing) foods were compared to determine if and to what extent gluten-free products are more expensive. Methods: Prices were compared for all food products labelled “gluten-free” and comparable gluten-containing food items in the same group available at two large-chain general grocery stores. The unit cost of each food, calculated as the price in dollars per 100 grams of each product, was calculated for purposes of comparison. Results: All 56 gluten-free products were more expensive than regular products. The mean (± standard deviation) unit price for gluten-free products was $1.71 (± 0.93) compared with $0.61 (± 0.38) for regular products (p<0.0001). On average, gluten-free products were 242% more expensive than regular products (± 212; range, 5% to 1,000%). Conc...

Phytochemicals: Health Protective Effects.

Abstract: Consuming a diet rich in plant foods will provide a milieu of phytochemicals, non-nutritive substances in plants that possess health-protective benefits. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, herbs, nuts and seeds contain an abundance of phenolic compounds, terpenoids, sulfur compounds, pigments, and other natural antioxidants that have been associated with protection from and/or treatment of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The foods and herbs with the highest anticancer activity include garlic, soybeans, cabbage, ginger, licorice root, and the umbelliferous vegetables. Citrus, in addition to providing an ample supply of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and soluble fibre, contains a host of active phytochemicals. Clinical trials have not yet been able to demonstrate the same protective effects from taking supplements. It is difficult to estimate how many Canadians achieve an adequate level of consumption, but it seems reasonable to assume that many Canadians could benefit from substantially increasing their intake of vegetables and fruit.