Feeding the mind: the mental health impacts of food insecurity
Eating healthy can be hard, and for many it’s becoming expensive to eat a balanced diet as food insecurity continues to be a growing problem.
Failing to properly fuel up can also have an impact on mental health according to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
Meredith Gardiner, director of services with CMHA Waterloo Wellington, said physical health and mental health are very closely related.
“With that level of stress having to make a decision to feed your family, or pay your rent, or pay your bills, we can absolutely see an increase in anxiety, stress, and depression across the population,” Gardiner said.
It’s not just CMHA that is seeing this alarming trend, as the Waterloo Region Food Bank said it is noticing something similar happening.
“We know if people have to choose between eating and paying for housing, they are going to pay for their housing,” said Kim Wilhelm, Interim CEO at the Food Bank Waterloo Region. “No one should have to choose between those.”
They say 1 in 14 homes in Waterloo region are food insecure, and buying healthy food is getting more difficult.
According to Statistics Canada, the overall inflation rate has pushed the price of groceries up 9 percent over last year.
The food bank has a few suggestions to help find nutritious food without breaking the bank.
"People can use brown rice, millet, bucket wheat different types of grains which are whole grains,” Cambridge Food Bank nutritionist Chaitali Maybhate said.
Maybhate said it is important to not just look at the price but spend some time looking at the nutrition of the items you plan to eat.
“Read the nutritional label go through all those ingredients, they can add their own proteins, and you can encase (increase) the nutritional value,” Maybhate said.
According to Chai, learning to cook even a little can make a big difference.
The Food Bank of Waterloo region says 60 per cent of the food delivered (to clients) is fresh or frozen, and they ask anyone who is having trouble buying food to reach out to see how they can help.
For those looking to eat a balanced diet, the Government of Canada has a food guide that can be found by clicking here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
ArriveCan contractor to be admonished by MPs in extraordinarily rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.