Workshop stresses healthy diets for the GCC citizens

The Health Ministry inaugurated the Dietary Guidelines for Saudis, symbolically dubbed: “Healthy Food Palm.” (Courtesy: moh.gov.sa)

RIYADH: The Netherlands Embassy in the Saudi capital has developed an initiative for the citizens of the Kingdom and other Gulf countries to embrace healthier eating habits, sustainable production and a more nutritious and balanced diet.

“This was presented during the second edition of the ‘Healthy Food, Health Lifestyle’ workshop, as a follow-up of the first meeting in May 2015 in Riyadh,” said Dr. Hans van der Beek, the agricultural counselor at the Dutch Embassy in Riyadh.
He said the workshop, organized with Saudi Greenhouses Company, aimed to increase awareness on the importance of good eating habits, sustainable production and balanced diet among citizens of Saudi Arabia as well as Oman, the UAE and other Gulf countries.
The workshop was the second edition of “Healthy Food, Healthy Lifestyle” series and it includes workshops and events focused on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
“Fruits and vegetables are key to a healthy diet. Yet, in many countries a big part of the population do not reach the daily intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO),” he said.
He said that a recommended daily intake by WHO is 200 grams of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. “Unhealthy eating habits, resulting from a fast-food, fast-paced lifestyle, is more and more affecting the Gulf region and its young population, with tremendous medical bills that will have to be paid. The question is ‘How can we prevent, rather than cure?’,” he said.
He stressed the importance of investing to improve health and lifestyle and “whether the focus should be on increasing production rather than the reduction of waste in fruits and vegetables.”
Engr. Mohammed Al-Rasheed, chairman of the Saudi Greenhouses Company and chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, talked on “Fresh Produce, Your Health, Our Future.” He stressed the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables to health.
Sergio Nicalau, general manager, Saudi Greenhouses Company, elaborated on the challenge to not only build the need for fresh produce but also the desire.
“If we would have to double our consumption of ice cream for health reasons, we would not have any problems in achieving the same,” he said.
Participants from various stakeholders related to this subject including universities, retailers, ministries, producers and traders, were brought together through this seminar which included discussions by all participants that will result in follow-up activities related to this topic in several GCC countries.