Social approaches to promote F&V consumption

Editorial

There is a current consensus in the world today on the protective effect of fruit and vegetables consumption on most of the diseases that affect us, especially cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes. In spite of this knowledge, consumption remains low. To address this situation, new strategies are required to encourage fruit and vegetables consumption since ¨knowledge¨ itself is not enough for a change in habit.

It has been proven that the best way to change habits is through activities and participatory approaches. That is the reason why the articles presented in this issue are so interesting, such as the one on chef Jamie Oliver’s campaign with its Britain’s Ministry of Food in which teaching to cook healthy foods proves to be effective as people who learn to cook healthy and inexpensive products manage to change their habits, increase consumption of fruit and vegetables and decrease consumption of processed foods.

Another interesting initiative is the one carried out by the University of Wisconsin with the prescription of fruit and vegetables consumption by health providers, along with the delivery of 10 dollars to buy from local producers, so that they get to know the local fruit and vegetable markets.

Finally, the evaluation of activities to promote the consumption of fruit and vegetables in eight member countries of the Global ¨5 a day¨ Alliance is a demonstration of the joint effort of more than 40 countries worldwide to promote a healthy diet, contribute to the local production of fruit and vegetables, but especially, to increase consumption as a way to prevent the major diseases that compromise humanity to date. To do this, strategies such as those mentioned in these articles, based on participatory, dynamic and innovative activities with the participation of families and community, are fundamental for a better health and quality of life.

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