This year, the Okanagan-Similkameen Healthy Living Fair will have a focus on diet.
The annual event, which will be held March 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, will feature a virtual field of information about the pulses food group.
“It’s the international year of pulses, often called legumes,” said event committee member and Interior Health dietician Alisa Senecal. “Pulse refers to split peas and chick peas. They’re a really nutritional food and are very environmentally sustainable. We’re going with that theme because they’re such a healthy food.”
High in fibre and protein, low in fat and containing vitamins and minerals like iron and folate, pulses are not only great meat replacements as proteins, but it also takes much less water and resources to produce them than it does to produce meat. There will be many presenters at the fair, with several of them addressing pulses and providing information about them. Sticking with the theme, Interior Health will also have a dietician booth where they will have resources on pulses and recipes.
The Healthy Living Fair won’t just be limited to discussing the benefits of pulses, but will address all sorts of topics. There will be five keynote speakers throughout the day addressing different topics, as well as activity and healthy eating demonstrations and a healthy living assessment from Interior Health will be available.
On Saturday there are speaking sessions with registered dietitian’s with Interior Health focused on eating healthy. Physical activity demonstrations will occur throughout the day with Bodies on Power, Get Bent Active Arts Society, the City of Penticton Recreation Department will have various demos including Tai Chi and Mend Catch and demos with Crazi Springz Pilates.
Dr. Miranda Wiley with Nature’s Fare Markets will speak about joints and fighting inflammation. A speaking session with the Youth Esteem Strategy Project on giving Penticton youth a voice. Also offering a speaking session is Evelyn Markin with the Canadian Cancer Society.
Connect Hearing will be hosting a free hearing screening in Room 5 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre which attendees can sign up for by dropping by their booth on the exhibit floor.
The Complete Health Improvement Program will be in Room 7 to provide more information about their program and offer a video presentation followed by a question and answer session at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
London Drugs will be hosting a body composition and metabolism assessment. Riverside Pharmasave will host a pole walking demonstration and Summerland Medical Centre Pharmacy will offer compression stocking fittings, bracing and helping people with questions on mobility and fall prevention.
The fair will have free entry throughout the day but those wishing to participate in the Healthy Living Assessment are asked to pre-register online.
Each pre-registered participant will receive the For My Health! profile and plan assessment document that then can be taken to each of the various Healthy Living Assessment stations.
Session details are subject to change, for more information visit www.healthylivingfair.com.