food education

IMPORTANCE OF FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION

Food and nutrition education - along with the other indispensable measures in the prevention and control of malnutrition and chronic illness related to diet.

Malnutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and obesity are problems of malnutrition that are increasingly present in many countries, along with chronic illnesses related to excessive or unbalanced diets1,2. The latest estimates and facts related to malnutrition and chronic illness related to the diet are alarming and worrying:

805 million personas approximately padecen hambre the chronic malnutrition, corresponding to 1 of 9 personas3.
2,000 million people approximately (about 30% of the world's population) affected by micronutrient deficiencies4.
More than 1,900 million adults (18 years or older) overweight, of which over 600 million are obese5.
Over 42 million children (under 5 years) with overweight5
3.4 million tons rise annually as a result of overweight or obesity6,7.
1.7 million tons of annual changes due to cardiovascular diseases are due to excessive salt / sodium intake6,8.
6.7 million tons annually as a result of insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables7,9.
According to FAO1,2 to avoid a crushing economic and social burden in the next 15 to 20 years due to the problems of malnutrition, countries need to educate their population about the consumption of adequate food (and the appropriate food mixes and combinations) ; which is a healthy diet, and how to choose healthy food options. Mientras following the UNESCO10 “…. There is sufficient evidence that education will steadily increase the likelihood that people will enjoy a healthy life. ”

Food and nutrition education can be defined as the process through which it empowers people and societies to voluntarily adopt healthy eating habits and lifestyles, respectful of their local food and environmental environment, thus favoring diversity. of the diet and the good nutrition of the population11.

Contento12 delivers a definition of food and nutrition education, addressing the three-dimensional approach to nutrition, which distinguishes human beings and their health issues from an integral perspective that encompasses the biological, social and environmental context13,14. This author defines food and nutrition education as “the combination of educational strategies, accompanied by favorable environments, designed to facilitate the voluntary adoption of behaviors, behaviors and elections appropriate to maintaining food and nutrition”.


Nutritional education must apply to all stages of life, especially as it is the school stage and adolescence, as these are the stages in which healthy habits are formed.
Nutritional education should apply to all stages of life, especially as it is the school stage and adolescence, as these are the stages in which healthy habits are formed.

Nutritional education has promoted the creation of healthy eating habits for life, which gives people the “nutritional culture” so that they can make the right decisions and adapt to a changing world. It also enables them to select, prepare and preserve foods of high nutritional value, properly feed babies and small children, buy intelligently, experiment with new products and contrast their family and other community experiences16.

In addition, consumers need information and training to be aware of their food and learning outcomes and to participate in the adoption of decisions affecting them.

On the other hand, the alimentary education promoted the adoption of habits of manipulation of the appropriate foods. In this respect, each year they suffer from millions of people due to the ingestion of contaminated foods, muchas of the same things, for ingesting unhealthy foods. Only the diarrheal illnesses transmitted by food and water cause the change of about 2 million people a year, in their minority17.

In summary, food and nutrition education is vital in the adoption of healthy eating habits and healthy lifestyles. If we adopt healthy eating habits (including proper food handling), we will reduce our risk against chronic illnesses and the consumption of contaminated food; At the same time, it will help us feel healthy and with bad energy, and with a greater capacity to enjoy life.