Getting the right tools in your recession-fighting kit

There is no doubt many people are starting to feel the pinch of being unemployed or underemployed in Greater Sudbury. These are tough times for many people who, just months ago, were living much more care-free financially.

When financial hardship strikes, there are periods when it is felt most acutely — Christmas, birthdays and the start of school. These are times when people often feel the pressure to spend more. When it comes to back-to-school expenses, there are supplies to be bought, programs to pay for, new clothing to acquire and a plethora of requests from schools asking for monies for anything from pizza fundraisers to field trips.

We are fortunate in our community to have numerous resources for individuals and families who need help as they struggle along financially — particularly during these peak seasons of need. Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault’s recent community spaghetti dinner was a nice gesture, but it was also a means through which he could gain some political brownie points and take a swipe at the visiting Liberal caucus.

What people really need, beyond hand-outs, are tools for healthy, balanced living. For those who qualify, there are pools of help into which the economically disadvantaged can dip in Greater Sudbury (think food bank or geared-to-income housing, for example), but there are also many tools available to the average person struggling through this recession or trying to make ends meet on strike pay. There are programs through which people can retrain to get themselves a different or better-paying job, there are debt counsellors who can offer up budget advice, there are health professionals who can give out tips on how to improve our weekly grocery bills, and much, much more.

All people have to do is ask for help. Visit your local MP or MPP office and ask about these resources and tools that are available for those who are struggling economically, physicially, mentally and emotionally. Ask a doctor, a pastor, a public health nurse, a lawyer, a counsellor — anyone who may be connected to the social safety net that we are so fortunate to have in our community.

Just this week I came across another great tool. Registered dietitians with Breakfast for Learning and Dairy Farmers of Canada are offering a free menu planner to help families plan healthy and balanced meals.

This new tool is designed to encourage parents and kids to become more involved in the meal planning process and develop healthier eating habits. During tough times, it’s more important than ever to eat healthfully and be proactive about what we eat. As the old saying goes, “food is medicine.” What we medicate (or feed) ourselves with throughout the day has a huge impact on how we feel, think and act.

The menu planner is formatted as a reusable wipe-off board that can hang on the fridge, and allows families to plan five days worth of meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. On the reverse side, the menu planner contains helpful tips to ensure meals are healthy and balanced, as well as tips on smart snacking and how to choose better beverages. The Menu Planner also features a detachable, reusable shopping list to keep track of the ingredients you need to prepare your meals and snacks.

This tool can be ordered online, free of charge, in English and French, at www.dairygoodness.ca or www.breakfastforlearning.ca.

One of the most effective tools, when it comes to saving money, is to plan, plan, plan. Think of this tool as a budget for your time spent in the kitchen (and who doesn’t want to economize their time spent there?) and for the money you spend on groceries. You can put it on your fridge and use it to make sure your family’s meals include foods from all of the four food groups according to Canada’s Food Guide.

The dietitians who put this menu planner together promise that, by using this tool, you’ll save yourself hours of time by not having to think about what you’re going to make each day — everything will already be planned in advance.

One less thing to worry about so you and your family can focus on staying healthy and focus on honing more tools in your recession-fighting toolbox.

Wendy Bird is managing editor of Northern Life newspaper.