The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Select Standing Committee on Health

A Strategy for Combatting Childhood Obesity and Physical Inactivity in British Columbia Report

2nd Session, 38th Parliament – November 29, 2006

< Factors Contributing to Obesity – Table of Contents – Aboriginal Health >

Brooke, Age 9, Victoria

FOOD SECURITY

The issue of food security, particularly in low-income households, is a matter that has emerged as an area of serious concern.  It is apparent from recent research that children living in households with limited financial resources are more likely to suffer from a myriad of health problems, lower education outcomes, and as teenagers, are more susceptible to depression and suicide.¹⁷  Preliminary studies also indicate that children living in poverty are more likely to be overweight or obese.¹⁸  In this section, we explore some programs that may be expanded to ensure that B.C.’s children have access to a safe, affordable, and nutritious food supply.

Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is a term employed when persons confront either economic barriers or physical distribution barriers in fulfilling their dietary needs for a healthy life.

The annual report of the Provincial Health Officer offered the opinion that a significant degree of food insecurity exists in B.C. The report stated that in 2001, 17 percent of British Columbia’s population experienced food insecurity.  This is evidenced by the fact that over 84,000 people – about a third of them children – use food banks to supplement their dietary needs.¹⁹

The Dieticians of Canada — B.C. Region, estimate that, in 2006, a basket of 66 recommended foods to feed a family of four persons in B.C. for one month costs $653.²⁰  When costs such as shelter are factored into the equation, many British Columbians must get by on a precariously tight monthly budget. The Committee believes that low-income families require special attention in initiatives that support British Columbians in achieving a healthy diet, as no doubt some are driven to less healthy choices due to financial insecurity.

Committee members believe that it may be instructive for the relevant government ministries — including the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance and the Ministry of Children and Family Development — to survey actual household budget expenditure patterns, in assessing the affordability of nutritious menus for lower-income families with children.

Table 1 : 2005 Monthly Cost of Food

Dieticians of Canada (2006), The Cost of Eating in B.C.

Nutritious Food Basket Inaccessible for Other Reasons

Some persons believe that knowledge and motivation provide a more common significant barrier than money and that nutritious food is inaccessible for a variety of reasons beyond economic constraints.  From this perspective, many are observed to lack the time, the physical access (including transportation), the food selection, the lifestyle, or the motivation that would allow them to purchase the necessary quantities of fresh, healthy food and to have it prepared skillfully.  In the absence of such attributes, these individuals are inclined to purchase convenience foods, frozen foods, junk foods, and other food items that can lead to obesity in the long run.

In this category one may also find immigrants to Canada who are confused by the bewildering choices, strange foods, and unfamiliar marketing institutions one encounters when shopping North-American style.

There exists a variety of causes, but the end result can be the same:  poor nutrition and obesity among children. Regardless of the reasons, young children must be protected from food insecurity. The Committee strongly believes that poor nutrition among children is unacceptable in British Columbia.

In order to address childhood diet inadequacies, which can be an important contributing factor in childhood obesity, the Committee suggests the pursuit of several vigorous actions.

Community Kitchens

Developed to provide cooking and nutritional skill-building programs geared specifically towards low-income adults and families, community kitchens can play an important role in promoting healthy eating among individuals and families facing food insecurity.  Community kitchens may take on several roles, including providing community dinners to vulnerable people, teaching food skills to young parents, or reducing the cost of food through bulk purchasing and large-quantity food preparation.

In June 2006, the provincial government announced funding to the Directorate of Agencies for School Health to develop programs pertaining to healthy eating and provided both capital funding for community kitchen appliances and support for the distribution of best practices information.  The Committee encourages the government to monitor the demand for start-up funding for community projects and invest in projects that provide learning opportunities for individuals and families seeking to learn more about nutritious, inexpensive, and tasty food preparations.

The Committee recommends that:

2. the government continue to invest in community kitchen projects in order to assist young families in improving their skills in food preparation and healthy eating.  In addition, the Committee encourages the government, communities, and local farmers to further expand Good Food Box programs.

Support for British Columbia’s Agricultural Products

Committee members strongly believe that the healthiest food options for both children and adults can be found in our own backyards. We are fortunate to be blessed with an abundance of agricultural products ranging from fruits and vegetable to meats and grains.  There are 20,000 farms in British Columbia, employing 14 percent of the provincial workforce and generating $35 billion a year in revenues.  This is an industry that provides healthy food options and works right on the doorstep of many communities.

We have all heard that our children (and adults) need to eat five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables per day as a part of a healthy diet.  Committee members believe that some of the healthiest food options for both children and adults can be found within our own province, sourced from British Columbia’s own agricultural sector.  We believe that both the agricultural sector and government should do more to promote British Columbia’s agricultural products to domestic consumers.  We would encourage the government and industry to develop social marketing campaigns that actively promote B.C. agriculture products as the best source of nutritional fruits and vegetables.

The Committee also endorses efforts to promote British Columbia’s farmers’ markets and make them accessible to a larger portion of the population.  A recent study on farmers’ markets indicates they play an important role in community building and creating social networks of people interested in healthy food options.  Furthermore, farmers’ markets play an important role in the provincial economy, generating $118.5 million annually for the provincial economy in direct and indirect spending.²¹

The Committee believes that farmers’ markets provide a critical link between consumers and those individuals who actually grow the food locally.  Their presence in the community fosters increased awareness of agricultural issues in urban communities and allows B.C.’s kids the opportunity to learn more about the agriculture process and nutritional value of locally-grown produce.

The Committee also enthusiastically supports the healthy diet, education and community benefits from community gardens, and believes that the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands should not overlook promoting this important local food source in its program planning.  The Committee is also of the view that the Ministry could explore the publication of a targeted “How To” cook book to promote low-cost food and diet options.

The Committee recommends that:

3. the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, in partnership with the British Columbia Agriculture Council, the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, and grocery stores, engage in an aggressive campaign to promote British Columbia fresh fruits and vegetables.
4. local governments, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, and local farmers’ markets continue to support and expand farmers’ markets to ensure their accessibility to a broad range of consumers.

Throughout the remainder of this report, the Committee provides additional recommendations on programs that may assist children facing food insecurity.  These recommendations include:

• Support for programs aimed at reducing mortality, obesity, and inactivity in First Nations communities (Recommendation #5, p. 24);
• The development of culturally-relevant programs to assist British Columbians from different ethnic backgrounds in leading healthier lives (Recommendation #6, p. 26);
• Continued development of programs within schools that educate children on healthy eating habits (Recommendation #19, p. 44);
• Support for the School Fruit and Vegetables Snack Program (Recommendation #20, p. 46); and
• Additional resources for expanding hot, nutritious school lunch programs. (Recommendation #21, p. 47).

< Factors Contributing to Obesity – Table of Contents – Aboriginal Health >

© 2006 Legislative Assembly of British Columbia