Philippine Asian News Today Vol 21 No 2 | Page 23

January 16 - 31, 2019 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY 23 Canada’s new food guide: Eat Well, Live Well The federal government has dramatically overhauled its iconic Canada’s Food Guide, introducing this week a new, simplified approach that encourages plant-based eating and reduces the emphasis on meat and dairy. For the past four decades, Health Canada has instructed Canadians that a healthy diet consists of specific servings across “four food groups,” set against a rainbow background. But the new guide, unveiled on, not only does away with the four groups; it eliminates serving numbers and sizes altogether. It also replaces the “rainbow” with a new icon: A plate. The new guide, revealed by Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor on Tuesday, reduces those groups to three. The message in that change is clear: Eat more plants, and less meat and dairy. As such, the remaining groups are: fruits and vegetables; whole grains; and proteins – a new umbrella category that combines both dairy and meat, along with plant-based proteins such as tofu and chickpeas. Even within the “protein” category, meat and dairy is de- emphasized. “Among protein foods, consume plant-based more often,” the new guide says. “The regular intake of plant-based foods – vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and plant-based proteins – can have positive effects on health,” including lower risk of cardiovascular disease, colon cancer and type 2 diabetes. The new guide is distilled into one strikingly simple image: a plate of food filled with roughly half fruits and vegetables, and the remaining half divided into whole grains and proteins. The image is meant to convey a simple message, according to Health Canada: Eat a diet made up of roughly half fruits and vegetables, and half of the remaining two categories. The new approach, he said, “is not about portions, per se, but about proportions.” By following the “half fruits and vegetables” rule, he said, the department hopes to make the guide “real and actionable in your everyday life.” He added that more specifics may be added later, though likely geared toward health professionals or for institutions who need guidance in developing meal plans and diets. Dring more water The instruction encouraging Canadians to make water their “beverage of choice” is meant to fulfill two purposes: to promote hydration, and also to limit the consumption of sugary or alcoholic beverages. “In 2015,” the guide says, “sugary drinks were the main sources of total sugars in the diets of Canadians, with children and adolescents having the highest average daily intake.” The new guide also introduces new warnings against alcohol consumption. Alcohol, the guide says, “contributes a lot of calories to the diet with little to no nutritive value.” Alcohol intake is also linked with increased risk of certain types of cancer, including IMAGE: COURTESY OF HEALTH CANADA • ILLUSTRATIONS BY TRISH liver and oesophageal. MCALASTER A statement from the Community Food Centres Canada described this on what we eat but how we eat taken together, encourage a more guidance as “a critical step forward – cooking more at home, enjoying communal and healthful approach to is the inclusion of advice not only food, and eating with others – which, eating.” (Canada food guide) GMA7’s online program “The Boobay and Tekla Show” is now on TV After a successful and hilarious run last year, Kapuso comedic duo Boobay and Tekla remain unstoppable in spreading positive vibes and laughter to their loyal viewers and followers as their digital comedy program The Boobay and Tekla Show finally invades Filipino homes abroad beginning February 2 via GMA Pinoy TV. From short-form online capsules, the well-loved and highly popular comedy program now becomes a weekend show with a complete mix of entertainment viewers will surely enjoy. Every episode features celebrity guests, engaging in spontaneous and genuinely funny conversations with the hosts as well as segments where the hosts interact with everyday people. For long-time comedian Boobay, he said that he is thankful for the overwhelming support of their fans and he offers this program to them. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa GMA kasi nakita nila yung chemistry namin ni Tekla as comedy duo. Pero para sa akin, fans ang may kagagawan kung bakit kami mapapanood sa telebisyon. and at the same time, challenging din ito para sa amin ni Boobay kasi mabigat na responsibilidad ang comedy. Kung sa iba siguro pagpapatawa lang yun, pero para sa amin, seryosong bagay ito. Pero mas nangingibabaw yung feeling na lumevel up na kami kasi dati sa online lang kami nakikita, ngayon sa national television na. Buong mundo na ang makakanuod sa amin so pinapangako namin na mag-e-exert pa kami ng more effort and ideas,” he said. Kung hindi dahil sa suporta nila—sa libu-libong likes at views na binibigay nila sa amin sa bawat episode ng show namin, hindi kami mabibigyan ng chance ng GMA. Kaya maraming salamat talaga, para sa kanila ito,” he said. On the other hand, Tekla looks at comedy as a serious thing so he promises to exert more effort in putting a smile on people’s faces. “Yung nararamdaman ko is tuwa WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM Witness another round of fresh gimmicks such as live performances, live prank, outrageous interviews with celebrity guests as well as the remake of the online hit ‘Dear Boobay and Tekla.’ The Boobay and Tekla Show is under the helm of director Rico Gutierrez. Catch the fun and excitement in The Boobay and Tekla Show beginning February 2, via GMA’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.