The Sweet Spot Workshop

Did you know? Health Canada has introduced a new Daily Value of 100 grams for total sugars, which is based on 20% of a 2,000 Calorie diet. The % Daily Value will be mandatory on Nutrition Facts tables by 2022. But you may already be seeing these new food labels appear on certain products right now!

We realize that introducing a Daily Value for total sugars will impact the way Canadians understand food labels, and it may bring some confusion and questions. Even to some dietary experts, it can be challenging to picture what 100 grams of total sugars in a 2,000 Calorie diet looks like.

So how can we help? The dietitians at CSI invited Chef Claire Tansey to host a hands-on “Sweet Spot” workshop at the end of August 2019. Claire led a group of Toronto-area dietitians through a cooking demonstration to help them visualize a full day’s worth of meals containing 100 grams of total sugars. Participants paired up and got to work, each making one of a breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert from Claire’s recent cookbook “Uncomplicated”. Then came the best part – tasting the recipes!

Check out what some of the attendees had to say about the experience:

• Andy DeSantis: “…A nutritionally dense and wonderfully balanced and diverse day of eating, and the presence of sugars, are not mutually exclusive…”
• Doug Cook: “…We not only saw how easily 100 grams of total sugar fits into a healthy eating pattern, but how many of us who prepare most of our own meals are likely already, at or around, that 100 gram reference intake, give or take.”
• Sue Mah “You can definitely enjoy a variety of healthy meals with a small dessert AND stay within 100 grams of sugars for the day!”
• Chelsea Cross “They were also teaching us the new sugar guidelines and how to see them put to use in meal preparation which was a great learning opportunity.”

What’s next? A Sweet Spot Meal Planning e-booklet!

There is still time to take part in the “Sweet Spot Challenge”, and submit your own sample one-day meal plan that reflects the new 100 g Daily Value for total sugars. All received meal plans will be compiled into an e-booklet, which will be available to download from our website later this year – stay tuned for more information!