KAPURTHALA: Pushpa Gujral Science City celebrated World Food Day by organizing a webinar on “A Healthy Diet is all about getting the right balance“. More than 100 students and teachers participated in the program. The theme for this year’s celebration was ”Leave no one behind”.
Dr. Neelima Jerath, Director General, Science City during her introductory remarks said that this day marks the anniversary of founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945 which believes that every human has the right to be free from hunger and malnutrition in order to develop their physical and mental aptitudes. Hence, collective efforts are required to eradicate global hunger. Statistics indicate that though enough food is produced in the world, however, as many as 828 million people still go hungry affecting nearly 10% percent of the global population. We are still way behind the Sustainable Development Goal of ‘Zero hunger’. Accordingly, the theme for 2022 is ‘Leave NO ONE behind’, but besides availability, safe and nutritious food are important aspects which need to be addressed. Production and consumption of safe food has “immediate and long-term benefits for people, the planet, and the economy as enough and healthy food leads to healthy citizen, including healthy mothers and a healthier future generation. The main objective of today’s program is to promote awareness and action to highlight the need to ensure healthy diets for all and prevent the risk of food insecurity and malnutrition, she added.
Dr. Kiran Bains, Professor & Head, Dept. of Food and Nutrition, PAU Ludhiana was the key speaker at this occasion. During her address, she highlighted that growing proportions of youth population are exercising less and eating more of ultra-processed foods or junk foods. We are looking at a first generation of children who may live less longer than their parents as a result of the consequences of overweight and type-II diabetes. She stressed that sound sleep for eight hours is essential for good health. The nature’s cycle of day and night should be respected by everyone whether you are young or old. She concluded her talk by urging all to avoid eating junk food and emphasized that good health is all about balancing less-healthy foods with more healthful ones along with physically active lifestyle and appropriate sleep pattern.
Speaking at the occasion Dr. Rajesh Grover, Director Science City said that a healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. It protects you against many chronic non communicable diseases. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats are essential for healthy diet, he added.