This is what we think about the promotion of healthy eating
Diet evolves over time as it is influenced by many social and economic factors shaping our individual and collective eating habits. Some of these factors are income, food expenses (which affect the availability and affordability of healthy meals), taste preferences, beliefs, social norms, traditions, and geographical and environmental factors (including climate change).
We believe that promoting healthy, balanced, and nutritious diets at a global level is an urgent matter that requires the cooperation of the public and private sectors. We especially encourage that both sectors promote healthy food environments by focusing on:
Maintaining coherence in national policies and investment plans
Increasing incentives for producers, marketers, and retailers to grow, use, and sell fresh and low-processed food and limiting incentives for ultra-high-processed foods containing high levels of saturated fats, trans fats, free sugars, and sodium.
2. Increasing consumer demand for healthy foods from an early age
Ensuring the availability of healthy, nutritious, safe, and affordable foods in pre-schools, schools, public institutions, and the workplace is a key step. Moreover, school policies must encourage children to adopt and maintain healthy eating meals and schedules. Also, regular education curriculums must include materials designed for children, adolescents, and adults about healthy dietary practices, cooking, food labeling, and food purchase. These materials must be easy to understand and follow at a household level.
3. Promoting appropriate maternal, prenatal, infant, and young child feeding practices
Policies and access to support reproductive and family care education for women and men can be helpful to promote family planning and safe environments for babies and children. Local programs for maternal protection, including working mother protection policies, are also helpful in providing women and babies guarantee of their rights. Breastfeeding must also be highly encouraged at the health care, community, and household level.
Written by Charles Yao and Irene Colorado.
Photo credits:
Alex Hudson
CDC
Thiago Cerqueira