As Canadians continue to be hit with higher food costs a northern dietician says it’s crucial to maintain a balanced diet to help prevent negative health outcomes in the future.

The Thompson Clinic’s Kathleen Hodgins says food insecurity is one of the main nutritional issues she sees in the north, adding that affordability can be a barrier for those looking to better their diets.

She adds that not enough people in the country eat the right amount of fruits and veggies they need especially as the consumption of processed foods goes up.

 Hodgins shares some advice on what people can do to improve their diets and combat higher food costs. She says we should be looking at whole grains, more plant proteins, they’re the cheaper food and just healthier for us.  She adds food waste is a huge waste of money and looking at using your leftovers, cooking smaller batches if you need to if you’re throwing out food, using those fruits and vegetables before they are expired, those things are going to be coming more and more important as the food dollar rises.

Hodgins encourages those who are interested in consulting a dietician to do so.