CDA employee to join Food Basket Challenge
This September, Faith Rowland, Account Manager for Canadian Diabetes Association, Northern Saskatchewan region, will join several high-profile people in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan participating in a Food Basket Challenge.
Meant to spark conversation around issues of poverty, the challenge provides participants with a standard food basket from the Saskatoon Food Bank and a food budget of only $5 for one week. Participants are expected to blog about their experience.
Rowland, who lives with type 2 diabetes, hopes her participation will also generate awareness of the issues faced by people with chronic condition who are living on a restricted budget.
“I’ve always been interested in the concept of food security and the challenges that people face trying to source healthy food- especially on a budget,” said Rowland. “And I’ve been even more conscious of that since living with diabetes, as I’ve been forced to make healthier food choices and realized that that’s not always economical.”
Rowland is on medication to treat her diabetes, and plans to test her blood glucose levels about 10 times a day for the week before and during the challenge. She said she’s nervous to see what foods are included in her basket, and interested to see what affects the challenge has on her blood glucose management.
“I’m hoping by being part of this it will spark conversation around food security and the special challenges faced by people living with a chronic condition.”
With low income populations at higher risk of diabetes, Rowland said the Canadian Diabetes Association is delivering programs and services for communities that face socioeconomic issues. She said this experience is a good way to raise awareness and understanding within the Association of the issues facing people in those communities.
The challenge takes place Sept 13-21, and Rowland encourages other individuals and offices to join her by creating their own food basket challenges during the week. Follow Rowland’s experience through her blog posts or on the Association’s regional Facebook page.