Making healthy changes with Colorectal Cancer Canada
Colorectal Cancer Canada is a national non-profit organization comprised of volunteers, members, and management that keeps members informed on the latest medical advances for colorectal cancer.
Learn more about the project below.
Project Essentials
- Principal Investigator: Amanda Li
- Years Active: 2019-2020
- Research Area: Food & Beverage
- Student Researchers: Anna Carolina Penalber, Tyler Shaw, Natalia Rudakov
The Challenge
According to the latest Canadian data, 1 in 2 people will develop cancer during their lifetime, but that roughly 50% of cancers are preventable and influenced by modifiable lifestyle factors, like avoiding tobacco, being active, or healthy eating and drinking habits. Hoping to inspire a meaningful change around how people manage their diet, Colorectal Cancer Canada (CCC) came to FIRSt to create recipes that promote cancer-fighting ingredients, find protein alternatives beyond red meat, and, most importantly, were simple to make but complex in flavour.
The GBC Solution
First, the research team created recipes for the clients to review that hit all the nutritional requirements, and the clients selected ten recipes to develop further. Next, these recipes were collected together in an online cookbook, with dishes that boost ingredients that help dissuade the growth of cancerous cells in the body. Once the recipes were finalized, production for a video series to supplement the recipes took place right in the FIRSt kitchens creating engaging content that makes choosing healthy meals look easy and achievable.
The Result
The recipes and media produced simple practices to adopt and show how small changes in diet can add up, like eating more cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower or kale) or cutting down on red meat. CCC incorporated the finished media into a comprehensive national media campaign to spread awareness, supported by a cookbook, social media strategy, and pamphlets for events across Canada. The ease of sharing these engaging resources will help its message reach more Canadians, both online and in person.
