Istanbul Gelisim University - Growing population and food waste threaten future generations

Growing population and food waste threaten future generations

The study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) revealed that by 2050, 300 million people in the world will have to fight hunger. Dr. Ayşe Huri Özkarabulut, Nutrition and Diet Expert, who made statements about 'sustainable nutrition', which has become more noticeable today due to the world population growth and climate change, said, "The increasing population and food waste around the world pose a great threat to future generations.”

Stating that sustainable nutrition should be reliable, healthy, nutritious and have a low environmental impact, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Huri Özkarabulut, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Health Sciences, said: “This diet is economical, accessible to everyone, culturally acceptable, fair, contributing to food security and is a lifestyle that is essential for the survival of generations. Changing diets have begun to cause the consumption of much more than the amount of protein we need.”

“WORLD AVERAGE REACHED 68 GRAMS”

Drawing attention to the fact that the limit of 56 grams of protein that a healthy adult should consume was exceeded as of 2009, Dr. Özkarabulut said: “The world average has reached 68 grams. According to the World Resources Institute 2016 'Changing the Diet for the Future of Sustainable Food' report, small changes in the nutritional choices of consumers can cause major effects such as reduction of environmental problems and agricultural resource use.”

“CHOOSE HERBAL PROTEIN SOURCES”

Stating that adequate and balanced nutrition should be consumed, Dr. Özkarabulut made the following suggestions:
“Prefer vegetable protein sources instead of animal based proteins (eggs, meat, milk). Take care to consume at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Increase your intake of legumes, whole grains, and oilseeds like hazelnuts, walnuts or almonds. Choose fish caught with sustainable fishing. Consume vegetables and fruits in their season. Get down to the ideal weight for a healthy life. Make your eating habits sustainable.”

“GET OUT OF DIET PSYCHOLOGY”

Emphasizing the need to quit diet psychology in order to gain sustainable eating habits, Dr. Özkarabulut said, “Imagine that you are doing something for your own health and life. Adjust your meals to live, not for food. Diet should not make you feel hungry during the day. It is not prohibited in the diet, the important thing is how much is consumed and how often it is consumed. Try to keep a nutrition diary, it is the most effective method for daily nutritional tracking. Take care to consume local foods and shop from local producers. Store the food you buy in the right conditions. Don't waste any food. Evaluate the water or parts of food such as stems and leaves.”