Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, healthy communities and families are based on the basics: healthy food and good nutrition. Promoting healthy eating is the focus each year in March, National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign that runs all month from coast to coast to coast.
Mr. Speaker, although in the NWT healthy lifestyles are promoted all year long, we place special emphasis on tradition in March and this year our emphasis is on family nutrition. We know that if our people stop smoking, drink less, eat healthier and exercise more, much of our health care and social services needs will decrease. We are encouraging families to eat healthy meals together, a simple way to keep good health that gets overlooked because of the day-to-day rush of our lives.
Mr. Speaker, when we were growing up, for those older among us, it was common place to eat with our family and enjoy a healthy meal. We know not only from common sense but from research, that families that eat together eat healthier, whether it be traditional foods, store foods or a combination of both.
In the NWT, we encourage traditional foods such as moose, caribou or bannock for family meals for families that enjoy their mealtimes together. There are many positive benefits. For example, children are more likely to eat foods as recommended by the food guide and studies show this helps reduce obesity as well as unhealthy choices such as eating junk food.
Eating together as a family promotes family cohesion and this cohesion has many positive spinoff benefits. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the public to watch for Nutrition Month activities being organized at the territorial, regional or community level by our NWT dieticians and nutritionists. These activities will include healthy food promotions at the schools, on the radio and in local grocery stores and practical tips for families on healthy eating on the government or regional health authority websites.
Mr. Speaker, the government has kicked off healthy eating in February with the beginning of our third annual school-based Drop the Pop campaign challenge. With the theme of Drop the Pop – Get Real, we are promoting more healthy food and less junk. Our campaigns helped to reinforce this message. Mr. Speaker, this campaign is a joint partnership with northern Stores, the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op, Food First Foundation of the NWT and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
Last year 35 schools joined in the effort and this year we hope even more will skip pop for healthier drinks and snacks. Schools can also apply for an award for their innovative projects again this year. I encourage all Northerners to go to the Health and Social Services website for more information about Nutrition Month and Drop the Pop campaign and to make healthy choices. Remember, when you eat together, you eat better. Take the time to enjoy your family by sitting down at mealtime. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
