8 Tips on how to share messages about food during the Holidays 

Buffet du temps des fêtes

 

Photo credit: The Healthy Fish

 

It’s that time of year: holiday festivities, special activities at school, get-togethers with friends and family, and, of course, lots of delicious food. However, with the abundance of sweets, treats and decadent dishes, a pervasive and harmful aspect of our society is often heightened — food shaming. During the holiday season, this becomes particularly potent as food is often a centrepiece of our gatherings. Without being aware of it, and often with very good intentions, we can convey guilt-inducing messages. These messages can impact the children around us since they think in very concrete terms, so labelling a food as “good” or “bad,” or even talking about compensatory behaviour after eating certain types of food, can easily make them feel ashamed of what they eat. Here are a few examples of these  messages to avoid:   

  

“Christmas is my cheat day!”   

“This food is so good I’ll have to go on a diet in January.”

“I’m getting fat just looking at this spread!”

“This recipe is so full of butter, but it’s worth it!”

“I have to save my calories for this evening’s dinner.”  

  

Eliminating shameful messages during the holidays is important for fostering a healthy relationship with food and promoting a positive body image. Here are eight strategies to help downplay these messages:  

 

LEAD BY EXAMPLE  

Adults should refrain from discussing diets, weight or appearance in front of children. Try to model positive behaviours and attitudes toward food and body image.   

  

SET A POSITIVE TONE  

Encourage a positive and accepting attitude toward food and body diversity. Emphasize that all bodies are unique and deserving of love and respect.   

  

USE NEUTRAL LANGUAGE  

When talking about food or eating, use neutral and non-judgmental language. Avoid phrases that categorize food as “good” or “bad.”  

  

CHANGE THE CONVERSATION  

When someone starts talking about diets or weight, redirect the conversation to more positive and inclusive topics. For example, discuss holiday traditions, shared experiences or other non-food related subjects.  

  

FOCUS ON ENJOYMENT  

Encourage discussions about the pleasure of eating and the social aspects of sharing meals. Talk about how food can be delicious, satisfying and a source of joy.  

  

ACKNOWLEDGE FEELINGS  

If children express concerns or questions about their bodies or eating habits, provide a safe and open space for them to share their feelings without judgment.  

  

CELEBRATE ALL BODIES AND SIZES  

Reinforce the idea that people come in all shapes and sizes, and that everyone’s body is unique and worthy of respect.  

  

EMPOWER CHILDREN TO LISTEN TO THEIR BODIES  

Teach children that they have the autonomy to make choices about their bodies and their relationship with food. Encourage self-awarenessand emphasize the importance of following their hunger and fullness cues.  

  

The holiday season is an excellent time to reinforce positive values and attitudes toward food and body image. By fostering a healthy and respectful environment, you can help children develop a lifelong appreciation for their bodies and a balanced approach to eating.   

Snowy Day Hat

Bannière décore ta tuque

Get your pencils ready! With this craft, your children will use their imagination to decorate their own snow hat.  

 

Materials

Matériel pour bricolage

 

Steps

Découper le bricolage

1. Print the hat and cut it out

Peinturer et colorier le bricolage

2. Pain or colour your hat

Coller la laine sur le bricolage

3. Then glue on your decorations, using yarn for the pompom and cotton balls along the rim.

Résultat final du bricolage

And there you go!

 

Download your snow hat here 

 

To donate and support Breakfast Club of Canada, click here!

BCC Test

Federal Government Falls Short in Prioritizing Children’s Well-Being in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement

Boucherville, Quebec, November 22, 2023 – Breakfast Club of Canada was looking forward to the 2023 Fall Economic Statement with great anticipation. After meeting with key government stakeholders in Ottawa on Monday, November 20th, and after months of discussions, the Government of Canada seems to be insufficiently recognizing the gravity of the situation, especially with regards to the crisis of food insecurity among students.

 

Breakfast Club of Canada acknowledges the efforts made by the federal government to assist the middle class. However, it is evident that the announced measures are not sufficient to address the needs of vulnerable groups, particularly children. Over the past few years, Breakfast Club of Canada and various other organizations have expressed serious concerns. Yet, while the last few months have been marked by severe economic uncertainty for families, the government has still not implemented the National School Food Program it committed to nearly five years ago. This initiative was initially announced in the Budget 2019, then included as an election promise in the Liberal Party of Canada’s 2021 Platform.

 

“As Canada’s only national school nutrition delivery organization, we express our dissatisfaction with the federal government’s Fall Economic Statement, which falls significantly short in addressing the urgent crisis faced by children. The latest budgetary allocations lack the comprehensive measures necessary to effectively address access to nutritious food for all in our society. Urgent action is needed to ensure no child goes to school hungry. The Liberals should have by now honoured their electoral promise of 2021 to prioritize the well-being of the nation’s children by revisiting and reinforcing its commitment to implementing a National School Food Policy. This year, once again, it is failing on its promises to children “, comments Tommy Kulczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer at Breakfast Club of Canada.

Food insecurity in Canada is the worst it’s ever been

According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, household food insecurity has reached a record high in Canada’s ten provinces. The University of Toronto’s latest report on Household Food Insecurity in Canada, drawing on the Canadian Income Survey by StatCan, reveals that the percentage of households facing inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints increased from 15.9% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2022. This translates to 6.9 million Canadians, including almost 1.8 million children under the age of 18.

 

Families with low-income are at the greatest risk of food insecurity, with rates nearly doubling the overall average (35% compared to 18%). However, the majority of families experiencing food insecurity have incomes that surpass the poverty threshold. In fact, approximately 80% of families dealing with food insecurity fall above the poverty line.

 

These estimates don’t include people living in First Nations or territories where rates of food insecurity are typically even higher.

 

“We are at a critical time as families and children in Canada are grappling with an affordability crisis of unprecedented scale. The Fall Economic Update would have been a good opportunity for the federal government to intervene and to prioritize investments in school nutrition programs, ensuring that every student across the country has access to the essential nutrients crucial for unlocking their full potential. It has used this platform on several occasions in recent years for budget announcements in exceptional situations. And we’ve reached an exceptional situation,” adds Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director, Government Relations.

 

At the end of October, the federal government released a What We Heard Report following public consultations to seek feedback on a National School Food Policy. While the report outlines the desired characteristics of a prospective school food program, no information regarding the subsequent steps or the timeline for implementation has been disclosed.

 

Breakfast Club of Canada will continue its efforts in the weeks and months ahead to work with the Government of Canada, as well as public and private partners on the development and implementation of a National School Food Program.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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Source: Breakfast Club of Canada
For further information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514 569-3594

Breakfast Club of Canada Engages with Key Government Stakeholders to Discuss Food Insecurity Among Students

Ottawa, Ontario, November 20, 2023 — In honour of National Child Day Breakfast Club of Canada meets with members of parliament and senators during a Breakfast on the Hill. The event serves as a chance to discuss the importance of implementing a National School Food Policy so that no children start the school day on an empty stomach preventing them from improving their learning capacities, growing emotionally and physically healthy, and ultimately being able to reach their full potential.

 

More generally, the event provides an opportunity to draw attention to the mission of Breakfast Club of Canada, the only national school nutrition delivery organization, and to discuss the role that various stakeholders are called on to play to protect the well-being of children across the country and see to it that their rights are upheld.

 

A survey by Maru/Blue conducted earlier this year on behalf of Breakfast Club of Canada has shown that 88% of Canadians think that federal, provincial, and municipal governments should make child hunger and malnutrition a political priority. Moreso, 84% believe that the federal government should implement a national school food program, which the Liberal Party of Canada promised to work towards in the 2021 federal elections.

 

Canada’s National School Food Policy

Building on many years of working together with the federal government and the school nutrition ecosystem, takes the opportunity today to reiterate the importance of the federal government’s commitment to developing and implementing a National School Food Program. The event also gives the members of parliament the opportunity to hear the perspectives from regional and local delivery partners.

 

At the end of October, the government of Canada released a What We Heard Report following public consultations to seek feedback on a national school food policy. Ensuring that every child gets the best start in life is a shared priority for Breakfast Club of Canada and the Government of Canada. Today’s event is an opportunity to discuss the highlights of this report in a non-partisan way, and to realize that almost all participants of the consultation agreed that school food programs benefit children and their communities.

 

Breakfast Club of Canada is pleased to have been able to support the government throughout the process of these consultations and hopes that immediate next steps will be taken. A collective effort by the government and all members of the House of Commons is necessary to secure the financial commitments required to implement a cost-shared school food program that follows the principles and objectives laid out in the recent report.

 

Quotes

“The future of all children depends on the decisions and actions we are taking today. A National School Food Program would allow more children from coast-to-coast-to-coast to have access to nutritious food, which in turn would improve their overall health and academic performance. We will keep ramping up our outreach efforts to make this happen and help roll out a national policy as quickly as possible.” — Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director, Government Relations, Breakfast Club of Canada

 

“Grumbling stomachs can have a major impact on kids in the classroom, affecting their self-esteem and hindering their ability to focus on their schoolwork. In collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders like the Breakfast Club of Canada, we are developing a National School Food Policy to deliver on our goal of giving kids healthy and bright futures. When kids have the nutritious food they need, they can stay focused on what matters most: learning and growing in the classroom.” — The Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

 

“Far too many children enter their classrooms hungry, and we’re committed to building on our National School Food Policy so every child can reach their full potential. Thank you to the Breakfast Club of Canada for your continued partnership on this important initiative.” — The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

 

“At a time when inflation is affecting families in Quebec and across Canada as they struggle to cope with increased financial pressure, 1.8 million children are living in a situation of food insecurity. These conditions are unacceptable, and as a society responsible for the well-being of our children, we have an obligation to remedy this situation quickly.” — Sylvie Bérubé, M.P. for Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou, Bloc Québécois and Critic for Children, Families, and Social Development

 

“Canada remains the only G7 country without a national school food program. It is long past time for the Liberal government to keep its promise, and invest in the creation of this program. No child should ever have to learn on an empty stomach. A national school meal program will help ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life and the nutritious food they need.” — Leah Gazan, M.P. for Winnipeg Centre, New Democratic Party and Critic for Children, Families, and Social Development

 

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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Source: Breakfast Club of Canada

For more information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514-569-3594

Breakfast Club of Canada Looks to Nourish the Potential of Tomorrow’s Adults this Holiday Season

In collaboration with the Rogers ALL IN program, the Club launches the “Fuelling the future with a nutritious breakfast” campaign

 

Boucherville, November 13, 2023 – As the Holiday season approaches, Breakfast Club of Canada is launching its new Fuelling the future with a nutritious breakfast campaign to highlight the importance of nourishing the potential of tomorrow’s adults, especially in a difficult current economic context. The campaign, which will also be broadcast across Rogers Sports & Media’s platforms as part of the ALL IN program, will run until December 31, 2023.

 

With the year drawing to a close, in Canada, 1 in 3 children is still at risk of going to school hungry. Demand and need for breakfast programs continue to grow, but for the time being, the Club will have to continue supporting existing programs due to the rising cost of food.

 

“As we all know, families, children and society at large continue to be greatly affected by the increase in costs of food and living,” explained Tommy Kulczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer at Breakfast Club of Canada. “That is why this campaign is so important, especially as we approach the Holiday season. This collaboration with Rogers allows us to get even greater visibility for the cause and help raise crucial funds. Now, more than ever, every gesture, large or small, helps fuel the future generation with a nutritious breakfast.”

 

A few months after children went back-to-school, the Club is observing an increase in attendance for existing programs. Indeed, breakfast programs are increasingly becoming important mechanisms for school communities to offer students a variety of nutritious foods. This giving season, the Club calls on everyone to give children the most important element to start the school day: a nutritious breakfast.

 

“The Fuelling the future with a nutritious breakfast campaign is a great opportunity to increase awareness for a cause that helps all children access nutritious food at school, regardless of the reason,” said Sharon Hinds, Manager All IN at Rogers Sports & Media. “We commit to leveraging our platforms to support Breakfast Club of Canada in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where children can reach their full potential, one breakfast at a time. We invite all stakeholders to join us on this journey by supporting the Club as they work towards reaching all children across the country.”

 

To find out more about the campaign and donate: https://www.breakfastclubcanada.org/holiday2023/

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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For more information on Breakfast Club of Canada or to speak with a spokesperson:

Hermanie Desrosiers, hermanie.desrosiers@breakfastclubcanada.org