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WORKING WITH PEOPLE’S FOOD HABITS
Some nutritional problems exist because families are too poor to buy or grow
the food they need. But other problems come from people’s food habits. People
everywhere have strong beliefs, and strong likes and dislikes, when it comes to
food.
When considering food habits, it is very important to remember that often the
traditional foods of an area are (or were) healthier than many of the newer
foods brought in from outside. Breast milk is healthier than bottle feeding. Fresh
or dried fruit is healthier than fizzy drinks. Millet, a traditional food of Africa, is
healthier than cassava, introduced from Latin America. In Chapter 7 we give many
other examples.
We health workers and nutritionists often fall into the trap of looking mainly at
people’s harmful habits and customs. We pay too little attention to their habits and
customs that are healthy. This is unfortunate. People respond more eagerly when we
emphasize their beneficial customs, and build on those.
Community-based nutrition education should not focus on
changing people’s bad habits. Rather, it should try to recognize
and strengthen those food habits and traditions that are healthy.
A common mistake; We often talk about changing other people’s attitudes and habits,
but do not think of changing our own.