Ali Browes, Registered Dietician
Ali Browes is a Registered Dietitian with a master’s degree in Health Administration; she is currently working as an Education Coordinator at U.B.C. in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. Prior to this, Ali worked as a Pediatric Dietitian at BC Children’s Hospital and as a senior pediatric telehealth dietitian at Healthlink BC.
VFR: As a Registered Dietitian with over 10 years of experience working in pediatric nutrition, can you please share your thoughts on the importance of children having regular access to healthy food, particularly fruits and vegetables.
Ali Browes: Food is an essential component to health and well-being for so many reasons! Firstly, a balanced diet provides a wide range of nutrients to help ensure our bodies function optimally and to reduce the risk of illness. Secondly, food has social and cultural impacts on individuals and communities; what and how we eat is linked to many parts of our identity and behaviours. Thirdly, food and the systems that support food production and distribution can be a reflection on our values as a society, including how we address inequalities and social injustice.
For children, nutritious food is an important part of supporting growth and development. Vegetables and fruit are nutrient dense foods that are rich in many different vitamins and minerals and an excellent source of dietary fiber. As part of a healthy diet, it is recommended that vegetables and fruits make up the largest proportion of foods that are eaten throughout the day. When children do not have access to nutritious foods such as vegetables and fruits both their short- and long-term health and well-being are negatively impacted.
VFR: Food insecurity is a critical issue in BC: 1 in 6 children are food insecure in our province. Can you tell us about how food insecurity impacts children’s health as well as their mental and social well-being?
AB: Having access to safe, nutritionally adequate and culturally appropriate food is the foundation of food security. Unfortunately, in B.C. many families are struggling to be able to afford the quantity or quality of foods they need. As described above, food impacts many dimensions of health and well-being. The short-term consequences of hunger can impact behaviour and ability to actively participate in school, while over time food insecurity can influence both physical health problems as well as mental health and well-being.
VFR: Over the last 11 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, have you noticed any changes in terms of the challenge’s children are experiencing with respect to their health and nutrition?
AB: The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified food insecurity issues, particularly in the most vulnerable members of society. Food security is stressful and is without a doubt impacting children with respect to their health and nutrition. The pandemic has also restricted our ability to gather and eat together which has limited the ability to form social connections around food.
VFR: Vancouver Food Runners supports a number of child- and youthfocused organizations with surplus food (e.g., KidSafe Project, Covenant House, Boys and Girls Clubs). Can you speak to role these sorts of organizations play with respect to ensuring kids are supported with additional food?
AB: Many of these organizations provide children and youth with access to nutritious foods within a safe and nurturing environment. In addition, some programs aim to build food skills and provide education around health and well-being. These organizations play an important role in supporting vulnerable children and youth when they are most in need.
VFR: Unfortunately, Canada is the only G7 country without a universal school food program. What are your thoughts on this? And how do you think we can move this agenda forward?
AB: My thoughts are that a well-organized universal school food program can help ensure that children have access to healthy meals while at school, as well as support food literacy, reduce the impacts of food insecurity, and promote sustainable food systems. These programs can be one way to support equitable access to healthy foods; however, addressing the root cause of social inequalities and poverty reduction at the same time is essential. Ways to help move this agenda item forward would be advocating for change with provincial and federal politicians and connecting with provincial food policy leaders already working on food security initiatives.
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