Name: Maegel Mojica Course: The Contemporary Activity: 2
World
Section: PYS234 Course code: GECTW01X Date: February 6, 2024
“Feeding Minds, Fueling Change: An Education-Based Food Revolution”
In an extended essay, English author Virginia Woolf mentioned that “One
cannot think well, love well, or sleep well if one has not dined well." This quotation
implies that the quality and quantity of meals we take appear to have a direct impact on
our general well-being, including physical, mental, and emotional aspects of our lives.
Eating enough nutritious and satisfying meals lends a hand to our mind’s work
efficiently, increases our capacity for love and emotional connection, and enhances our
sleep and rest quality. However, failing to be mindful of our dietary choices might lead to
health problems including obesity, malnutrition, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc.,
attributable to several factors including lack of knowledge, poverty, shortage, climate
and location, and culture.
Nowadays, many individuals are often subjected to unawareness of the
exerted influence of their dietary habits on their general well-being due to a lack of
health-related knowledge. The absence of health-related knowledge can impede
individuals from making well-informed decisions regarding their health, which may
increase the prevalence of different health issues among the populace. In consequence,
there is an ongoing surge in accommodating education and awareness campaigns to
empower individuals to make informed decisions, acquire a healthier lifestyle, and
prevent a range of health problems associated with a lack of knowledge. One such
campaign is “Food Revolutionary” by Jamie Oliver. Jamie Oliver is a British celebrity
chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author renowned for his efforts to promote and
improve food education and healthy eating, which have resulted in a regulated food
revolution campaign. Oliver’s campaign focuses on educating individuals, especially
children and families, by teaching students the importance of the nutritional value of
food in different subjects in the primary curriculum, including math, science, history, etc.,
improving school meals, and promoting cooking skills.
In my opinion, educating individuals is one of the substantial components of
promoting a healthy lifestyle and addressing food-related health problems. However, it
must be complemented by an address on socio-economic and environmental factors
such as poverty, location, climate, and culture. For instance, Africa is a continent that
has the highest extreme poverty rates globally, as stated by a website named Outreach
International. For instance, Africa is a continent that has the highest extreme poverty
rates globally, as stated by a website entitled “Outreach International. The poverty
experienced in Africa significantly affects education and the supply of food in their area.
This explains that the limitation of financial resources results in insufficient infrastructure
and resources in educational institutions, impeding access to quality education. On the
other hand, the families might find it difficult to afford school fees, uniforms, and
necessary supplies, further restricting their children’s access to education. In addition,
several agricultural practices suffer due to a lack of financial resources, hindering the
supply of enough food throughout Africa. Climate-related issues like drought, variable
rainfall, and desertification are additional factors that might negatively impact
agricultural productivity.
In conclusion, the individual's food choices are frequently influenced by
external factors that go beyond personal knowledge and preference. However, in the
age of globalization, individual food choices are not only based on knowledge, richness,
culture, location, and climate but also on communication. With increased accessibility to
a wide range of foods from around the world, individual food preferences change.
