Challenge of Dietary Reform

Then there is the reality that the propensity for such consumption is assiduously cultivated by the movers and shakers in the fast food industry particularly the foreign franchises peddling every variety of foreign foods through lavish advertisements and relentless propaganda.

That these foods are generally cooked at high temperatures in unhealthy fats with meats laden with disease inducing chemicals seem to be of little concern to Trinidadians.

In addition these meals are served with a drink of high sugar content - a factor in inducing diabetes. The advertised allure of joy, happiness and good times for family and friends is difficult to resist. It should also be noted that much of this advertisement is insidiously directed to kids. How many parents, even if they were so minded, could resist the insistent pleadings of their children. It would require an immense degree of discipline-a characteristic so sadly lacking in the population.

Then there is the problem of the taste for foreign food items among significant sectors of the population even where local alternatives are available. Such a preoccupation with foreign is deemed to denote status and modern living even as these foods are highly processed and laden with additives. To top it all, the per capita consumption of alcoholic beverages, much of which is foreign, is quite high and exacerbates the problems associated with lifestyle diseases as well as alcoholism. Any attempt by government to effect some measure of control or restriction on our penchant for unhealthy food and drink must confront the vested interests in the food and beverage industry which is easier said than done especially if such interests are heavy donors to the coffers of political parties.

Apart from education, there are perhaps other options available to policy makers to promote a healthier diet. Among them there is the crying need to address the cost and availability of healthy food items. If such foods are not readily available or are too costly, people will resort to unhealthier, less costly alternatives. Much has been said about boosting local production to provide the choice of fresh, healthy foods and yet little has been achieved as the food import bill continues to increase. It must be borne in mind that for the grocery owner it is much more convenient to handle, store and sell properly pre-packaged (i.e. generally foreign) items than to handle local goods of varying quality and unreliable supply. Much therefore has to be achieved to boost local production to meet the challenge of providing cost-effective healthy alternatives. The major ingredients in the much-touted Mediterranean diet are fruits, vegetables and fish all of which can be provided locally.

However, if an apple is cheaper than an orange or mango and carite sells for $50 per lb, then the local population would very well seek the cheaper foreign alternatives.

Government should also lead by example in promoting a healthy diet. For starters it could address the problem of providing healthy meals in the health institutions and schools a n d disallow the vending of junk foods on these premises.