1-Poverty lies at the heart of the problem. Poor people are the most likely to be malnourished. Stunting – children being too short compared to others of the same age – and obesity are most common in low
and middle-income countries and among the poorest communities in high-income countries.
Eradicating poverty is key to ending malnutrition in all its forms. At the same time, eradicating malnutrition is key to economic development: A well-nourished population is a healthier and more productive population.
Although hunger and obesity might look very different, their root causes are actually the same. This means that often one set of actions can address both problems, so-called double-duty actions. Programs that provide nutritious foods in schools are an example of what governments can do to address malnutrition in all its forms.
Ensuring that mothers are well nourished is another important action to take. Malnourished mothers are more likely to have malnourished babies. An underweight mother risks having a baby with low birth weight. The child of an overweight or obese mother, in turn, is at risk of becoming overweight as an adolescent or adult. And, paradoxically, the underweight child of an underweight mother has a higher risk of overweight later in life than a child who had a healthy weight. That is why the first 1000 days from pregnancy to a child’s 2nd birthday is such an important time to get it right, as far as nutrition is concerned.
2-Our way of producing, supplying and consuming food has
to change. From the farm to the plate, our food systems currently favour production of high-yielding staple crops.
In addition to the impact on our diets, intensified food production, combined with climate change, is causing a rapid loss of biodiversity. Today, only nine plant species account for 66 percent of total crop production despite the fact that, throughout history, more than 6 000 species have been cultivated for food. We currently rely on only three crops (wheat, maize and rice) to provide nearly 50 percent of the global dietary energy supply. A diverse variety of foods is crucial for providing healthy diets and safeguarding the environment.
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- Make your plate as colorful as possible. Fruits and vegetables are an essential component of a healthy diet, so make an effort to incorporate them into every meal. But if you can’t, have them as a snack rather than munch on cookies and candy.
- Always go for whole grains. According toEveryday Health, you should consume at least six to eight servings of whole grains each and every day. That means during breakfast, lunch and even dinner, you should be seeking foods where whole grains are a featured ingredient.
- Include a serving of protein whenever possible. Protein is a key component of a healthy diet, so you should be seeking foods that are high in protein when deciding what you’ll eat each day.
- Avoid sugars as often as you can. Although it would be difficult to completely cut sugar out of your diet, the more you do, the better off you’ll be.
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