By: Daniel Humm, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for nutrition and education
This book reflects what is often in the back of my mind as I think about what drove me to master a plant-based cuisine. It mirrors my belief that biodiversity begins on the plate; that changing our mindsets about the way we eat can have a profound impact on the world around us.
Food, in all its forms, is a powerful catalyst for change. I have seen the magic that can happen in the kitchen when transforming food into something that tastes good. And when you cook with food, like I do, you begin to realize that this could be true on a far larger scale and with far reaching implications. The messages in this book are about taking individual ingredients on a grander scale, like education, biodiversity and food sustainability, and blending them to transform our relationship with nutrition. When we understand how interconnected food systems are, from the farm to the fork, we begin to understand how interconnected all life on this planet is.
I am proud to be a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador on nutrition education because I want to help relay the message that the lessons we learn about what and how to eat in school and beyond impact not only our own health, and productivity, but much much more. These lessons begin from birth, in the messages we receive from our parents, in schools, through our school meals, and from the world around us. An investment in nutrition education is not just about teaching us what to eat; it is about empowering us to make informed choices that nourish our bodies and protect the planet.
We cannot cook up any form of nutrition education without also remembering the many millions of children who are not food secure. Nutrition plays a vital role in human development, particularly in children, but also when we are adults. Access to nutritious school meals, for example, has been shown to significantly improve learning outcomes. Eating unhealthily is similarly a pressure cooker for our entire system. Adults who eat unhealthily are likely to experience faster cognitive and productivity decline. Ultimately, this book is a call to action. Just as a chef carefully selects and combines ingredients to create a masterpiece, we must carefully consider the ingredients of a healthy and sustainable future – education, nutrition, and a deep respect for our planet and all its inhabitants.
Download the How to cook up nutrition education
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