The Province is providing $475,000 to a Canadian Diabetes Association healthy cooking program to help families gain knowledge of basic nutrition and confidence in the kitchen to prepare healthy meals, snacks and beverages.

Food Skills for Families is a hands-on program that teaches healthy eating, shopping and cooking. The program consists of six sessions led by trained, certified community facilitators in the kitchens of host organizations throughout B.C. This funding will help to expand the program across the province and to further support other groups such as seniors and their caregivers.

The association works in partnership with community agencies throughout B.C. to deliver this six-week program to their clients - reaching out to Aboriginal, new immigrant, South Asian and low-income families because many are at risk for - or live with - chronic diseases, including diabetes.

The Canadian Diabetes Association released a public opinion poll and report in April 2011 that outlined concern by Canadians about diabetes and its threat to families, the health-care system and the economy. The report showed that the number of British Columbians with diabetes will rise from 338,000 in 2010 to 548,000 by 2020. According to the association, B.C. has areas of its population whose risk of developing Type-2 diabetes is higher than the national average, including South Asian, Chinese and Aboriginal people.

This announcement is a part of the Healthy Families BC strategy, which supports British Columbians to manage their own health, reduce chronic disease and ensure that pregnancy and support programs target the province's most vulnerable families. The strategy will focus on healthy eating, including a greater awareness campaign around sodium and a provincial restaurant nutrition information program to help make the healthier choice the easier choice.

Quick Facts:

• A strengthened provincial strategy and investment in prevention can improve the health of British Columbians and potentially avoid up to $2 billion in yearly health-care costs, according to a report released in September 2010 by provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall.
• Obesity alone costs up to $830 million a year to the economy.

Learn More:

Canadian Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.ca

Food Skills for Families: www.foodskillsforfamilies.ca

Healthy Families BC: www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca.

Contacts:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Regina Nebrida
Marketing & Communications Associate - Pacific
Canadian Diabetes Association
604 732-1331 ext. 241