As every year, March marks Nutrition Month. On this occasion, nutritionists across Canada remind us of the importance of healthy eating. However, for many families, the challenge of eating well has never been greater.
Rising food prices, which have peaked in the past year, threatens to climb another 5 to 7% in 2023 according to experts. What will be the consequences for families, and above all, what societal choices can we make to help young and old to eat adequately?
Not being able to obtain enough nutritious food to meet one’s needs can have serious consequences on the physical and psychological health, as well as on the quality of life of all members of a family. These consequences are particularly important in young children. From pregnancy, failure to meet the nutritional needs of the mother leads to an increased risk for the health and development of the child.
During early childhood, children who experience food insecurity are at greater risk of exhibiting developmental delays as well as symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention. They are also more likely in the long term to develop chronic diseases and to encounter difficulties at school.
And recent survey by the Observatoire des tout-petits reveals that one in three parents experience high stress in relation to their housing situation and that two in five parents fear not being able to make ends meet and pay their bills. This proportion is even higher among single-parent families, among those with an income of less than $40,000 per year and among immigrant families. However, paying your mortgage or your rent is an expense that cannot be postponed. Parents are therefore sometimes forced to reduce other expenses, such as the grocery bill.
According to the Quebec Observatory of Inequalities, food assistance services are designed as essential emergency measures to alleviate food insecurity. Other initiatives, such as Olo follow-up, school feeding programs in schools or collective kitchens, also contribute to the safety net that helps families.
However, to sustainably reduce food insecurity, these measures must be accompanied by structuring public policies. For example, financial support measures for vulnerable families and raising the minimum wage can increase the purchasing power of families. Improving access to affordable housing can help control the cost of living.
While we are all concerned about rising food prices, some families also have to juggle rent that is too expensive for them to afford. Field actors observe these growing needs and deplore the lack of resources to meet them. As the provincial and federal governments have tabled their budgets, let’s make sure that the families and toddlers most affected by inflation and the housing crisis can come out unscathed.