Celebrating World Food Day: Empowering Nutrition for a Healthier Future

The World Food Day is celebrated every year on October 16th to value the significant role of food and nutrition on our lives. Nutrition is a foundation of our health, and it is more than just the intake of food. Nutrition plays a vital role to support our health, physically and mentally. As Malaysia is projected to have an increasingly ageing population, understanding the value of a well-balanced diet and nutrition, and making informed choices, can prevent development of chronic diseases and improve the quality of life, and pave the way for a healthier and brighter future.

A well-balanced diet includes a variety of foods, and the Malaysian Food Pyramid 2020 recommends the incorporation of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats into our daily meals to ensure we receive all essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, that are needed for the maintenance of overall health. Water is essential for nearly every bodily function; thus we should aim to drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks throughout the day. Besides, paying attention to portion sizes as recommended by The Malaysian Healthy Plate can help in managing calorie intake and preventing overeating. As processed and sugary foods and beverages can lead to various health issues, opting for whole, unprocessed foods whenever possible and choose fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a good starting point to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

To ensure everyone has access to safe and nutritious food, a supportive food system is needed as access to a healthy and balanced diet relies not only on individual choices. The system must explore the intricate connection between nutrition, food safety and food security to make impact on health and well-being towards the community. By ensuring sustainable agricultural activities and reducing food waste, we can contribute to a healthier community and ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits. This approach is indeed in line with the call by The United Nations on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially, SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) to help combating hunger, reducing malnutrition, and promoting healthier communities. Hence, as we celebrate World Food Day, let us make nutrition a priority in our lives. A big impact starts from a small step.

Dr. Mohd Redzwan Sabran

Senior Lecturer

Department of Nutrition

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date of Input: 16/10/2024 | Updated: 29/10/2024 | nadia_rahman