Health Promotion Officer with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Donna Barker, has dismissed the idea that eating healthy is an expensive thing to do.
Rather, she has suggested the amount of money a person spends is dependant of the food choices they make.
“It depends on your choices because there are local things that we can use as substitutes for the expensive imported things. For example, we need protein and you don’t always have to go buy meat or fish, we can use a lot of peas, beans and nuts which are cheaper to get our protein. In terms of fruits and vegetables, people may say they are expensive, but we have choices. We can stock on local ones, you can store, you can freeze. There are a lot of ways, but I think that people need to be educated more and the more you are educated the more you find what information [is needed].
Barker, who spoke to the press during the recently held national agricultural exhibition, Agrofest, stated the public can gain more information about how they can go about making better food choices by reaching out to local authorities.
“There is a nutritionist or a dietician in each polyclinic, people can call and ask questions. You can go make an appointment and see someone and you can call the Ministry of Health and we can give you advice as well.”
She also stated that Barbadians are generally aware about the importance of healthy eating, however, at times they don’t do this.
“As you talk to people when they come around and we engage in conversation, people generally are aware of what to do. I think they need more consistency, putting the information to them more often.”
(MG)