Election 2011: Voting for Good Food Policy
Posted: April 27, 2011
Categories: Food in the News / Food in the News / Food Strategies / Good Food Ideas for Kids
With a federal election just 5 days away, politics and our collective future are at the front of almost everyone’s minds. For me, framing this discussion in the context of food is how it makes most sense. What’s different about this election is that this time, all parties actually have food on their campaign agendas. This in itself is a victory for good food advocates who have been pushing for food as a political priority, at every level, for many years. So what should a food policy say? And more specifically, what are the elements of a food policy that will make Canada a healthy food environment for kids?
The way I see it, having a good food policy will by default create good health, economic and environmental policy as food ties all aspects of human life together in a sort of interdependent web. Putting food as a priority will require us to really support and nurture farms and farmers (among other things), which will have direct, positive impacts on both the economy and the physical environment.
In the context of our kids, what kind of food policy will ensure that they have the brightest futures possible? Is it student nutrition programs? Or maybe it’s food education in schools? Or perhaps it’s a matter of getting more good food on family tables? I’d suggest it’s all three of those and more, but perhaps we can sum it up this way: kids need knowledge, skills and access.
We need to teach our kids about food, both at school and at home. We can embed food education into school curricula, and reinforce those messages with wholesome food served in meal and snack programs. And as grown ups, it’s our job to model healthy eating and thinking around food at home, returning the home to a child’s primary source of nutrition. As kids grow, this knowledge develops into skills that they will use for the rest of their lives, and government should support people and communities in this effort, by making good quality, sustainably produced food accessible. Plus, our kids need a future to live in, and we need to put thoughtful environmental and food policy in place now to ensure that happens.
The access piece is crucial, because it’s about identifying food deserts in both urban and rural communities. Supporting farmers to make a good living by growing our food and nurturing farmer’s market economies are an important and effective way to ensure that there is a sustainable future for food production, with attention being paid to the stewardship of the land, and delivery models to connect farms and cities.
With spikes in diabetes and childhood obesity, educating kids about healthy eating and making good food choices is one of our most important priorities. It’s also important to recognize that these kinds of health-based outcomes are the result of generations of an almost exclusively trade-focused approach to agriculture. A food policy helps to shift thinking about agriculture from the context of commodities and profit to one of food and good health.
When you cast your vote next Monday, consider the importance of good food in your own life, and take the opportunity to vote for a party who understands that good food is essential for a thriving, prosperous Canada. The party with the most sustainable plan for food is likely the party with the most sustainable plan for the country.
Here’s a link for more information on individual party food platforms.