Albania, Adice
A Nutritional Transition
Külli, EUAV in Albania
"This experience allowed me to teach children about nutrition and
help them learn how to make healthy food choices"
My mission began at the end of January in
Tirana, the capital of Albania. As a food and nutrition professional, I was
very happy to get this position in this Mediterranean country! The
Mediterranean has been a rich source of cultures, ingredients, flavors and
tastes since humans began sailing along its ancient shores. The fusion of
tastes and health benefits of the available raw materials has made the diet of
this region one of the most sustainable on the planet. The Mediterranean diet,
rich in foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, and olive oil, is often
considered the benchmark for healthy and ecologically sustainable eating. But
according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, it is in decline in the very region where it originated.
The Mediterranean region is going through
a "nutritional transition" in which problems of undernourishment
coexist with overweight, obesity, and diet-related chronic diseases. Population
growth, urbanization, and increasing wealth and living standards have
contributed to the "westernization of food consumption patterns" in
the region, notably through the shift to higher-fat animal products and
processed foods.
Unfortunately, in terms of child health,
Albania faces the double burden of malnutrition. While undernourishment affects
remote rural areas, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is high among
children and adults in the capital Tirana. Major improvements in health care
and nutrition education efforts are needed to reduce the prevalence of
undernutrition while preventing the transition to obesity and chronic disease.
It is said that there is a severe lack of
fruits and vegetables in the diet and too much sugar in the diet. In addition,
many energy-rich but non-nutritious snacks are consumed. A key objective is to
educate on the need to reduce the amount of sugar and salt used in the local
diet. And to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables. There appears
to be little public awareness of these needs. So far, my main activities have
been consulting with children and parents in day-care centres and centres for
people with special healthy eating needs.
Children and teenagers need good nutrition
to grow, develop, be protected from disease, and have the energy to study, learn,
and be physically active. Poor nutrition is one of the most important risk
factors for chronic disease. Teaching children about nutrition and helping them
learn how to make healthy food choices is a great way to prevent childhood
obesity and help children stay healthy as they grow up. Prepare half your plate
of fruits and vegetables! Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day!
Here are the main elements of the message. What are some fun ways to teach
children to eat more fruits and vegetables? A few examples are here.
"I can eat a rainbow" - Fruits and vegetables are important in our diet.
They contain various concentrations and combinations of phytochemicals that
play a role in maintaining the health of our bodies. Some can strengthen our
immune system, while others can help us develop and maintain strong bones and
teeth. Phytochemicals also give fruits and vegetables a spectrum of bright colours.
Eating a "rainbow" of fruits and vegetables is therefore a good way
to ensure that we get all the phytochemicals we need to stay healthy. All of
the children coloured their rainbows, wrote down the names of the corresponding
fruits and vegetables, and promised to eat them. Children can set personal
goals related to their own consumption of fruits and vegetables, such as
increasing the amount, variety, and/or testing new products.
"Crack the code" - Through a variety of activities, it can be more
effective to spread the message of healthy eating. With the positive emotion of
the achievement, messages that are mundane and sometimes even tedious for
children can be more easily "absorbed". We did the exercise
"breaking the code" with healthy eating messages.
Good health and nutrition are essential
for an individual's well-being and important for national development.