The Mediterranean and other healthy traditional diets are key to eliminating hunger and malnourishment and attaining food systems that respect the environment, people's well-being and culture, said speakers at an event in Rome on Wednesday that was organised by the Italian government.
"Promoting and protecting healthy diets and making them available, accessible and affordable is critical for having a fulfilled and happy life," United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu said in opening remarks at the event, which was supported by FAO.
Wednesday's event aimed at deepening understanding of the Mediterranean and other traditional diets from around the world and their nutritional benefits, as well as raising awareness on how they can help achieve progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
"Transforming our food systems is essential in ensuring healthy eating patterns," Qu said, stressing the need to make sustainable healthy diets affordable to all, especially to the most vulnerable people in society.
In his address, Qu cited some good examples of traditional healthy diets that "contain the wisdom of our ancestors and the cultural essence of generations". Such examples include the Mediterranean diet which contains diverse vegetables, fruits, legumes, herbs and olive oil; the New Nordic Diett; the traditional Japanese Diet; and the South of China's Regional Cuisine.
All of these traditional diets boast a numerous health benefits, for example, they can lower cholesterol, prevent heart diseases and diabetes, Qu added.
But Qu warned that despite the numerous benefits of these diets they are often neglected due to a combination of factors such as population growth, globalization, urbanization, economic pressures and the fast pace of life which are driving change in our diets and consumption patterns.
Qu called on all the stakeholders "to join our efforts in ensuring that traditional diets regain their importance and well-deserved position in the people's minds", and encouraged the young generation in particular to re-discover enjoyment of cooking healthy meals at home rather than fast-food.
Italy's health minister Giuseppe Ruocco, the foreign ministry's deputy secretary-general, Michele Baiano, as well as nutritionists and other diet-related experts from around the world, UN agency representatives and academics also attended the event.
Noting that traditional and indigenous healthy diets play an important role in eliminating hunger and malnutrition, Qu highlighted the need to transform our food systems to become more nutritious and inclusive, to produce "food that not only feeds the people but also nourishes them".
FAO will continue to support its member countries to develop Food-based Dietary Guidelines, so governments can advise their citizens on healthy eating that is suitable to their local context, Qu said.
Qu also referred to the recently released Guiding Principles on Sustainable Healthy Diets developed jointly by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) to support countries in their efforts to promote healthy diets.
FAO and Italy are organising a series of seminars focusing on different aspects of the Mediterranean Diet in preparation for celebrations next year to mark the 10th anniversary of UNESCO's declaration of the Mediterranean Diet as an intrinsic part of our cultural heritage.
Further events are planned through 2020 that will explore different aspects of the Mediterranean and other traditional healthy diets, such as their role in environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, women empowerment, urban-rural relation, and the management of food loss and waste, FAO said.
