Food Literacy 🍉🥐🫒🌽
What’s that all about? 🤔
We don’t hear the words ‘food literacy’ much - not necessarily because we don’t know what it is, but perhaps because we just don’t describe it like that.
Food Literacy basically means an understanding of food, how it can support our health and wellbeing, and how it can hinder our health. Actually, the definition varies slightly throughout research papers but this is the general idea. Some like to get more specific and talk about the point at which someone has enough of an understanding of food to be able to make food choices which are ‘right’ for them - and that’s food literacy.
It doesn’t come as much surprise then that those with limited food literacy can be at a greater risk of developing things like diabetes, obesity and heart disease. I’m such a big believer in children becoming food-literate because food really can be medicine (in addition to conventional medicine, of course). A nourishing, wholesome diet can support mental and physical health in so many ways so we owe it to our children to teach them how to nourish their bodies.
This is why I make a big point of not using food as bribery or punishment.
Of course, if food literacy means having an understanding of food to the extent that we can then make healthy choices about what we put into our bodies, we can’t expect babies and toddlers to do this all the time.
But to the extent that food literacy is also about knowing that we can eat certain foods and feel full, and eat others and not feel so great — well, in my opinion that counts. So, we can start to teach our children how to nourish their bodies from the beginning, not with the expectation that they will be completely food literate (they lack impulse control when they are little) but with the hope that as they grow they will understand enough to be able to choose the When/How/What when it comes to food.
And no, this is not about restriction or elimination. ❌
We can be food literate and also want to eat, and enjoy eating, things like birthday cake, crisps, or fizzy drinks.
Food literacy for me is more about understanding and empowerment.
If we know what is good and nourishing, then we are equipped to make choices which feel good or right to us - that doesn’t mean being overly restrictive or eliminating food groups.
It means including foods in our diet, on a regular basis, which nourish us. And also making time and space for foods which we might eat for enjoyment or as part of socialisation or celebration.
What do researchers say about food literacy? 📚
First and foremost, that food literacy doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of the bigger picture of having health literacy generally (think disease prevention, exercise and wellbeing AND nourishing foods - in a wider social/economic context).
That it’s a global issue.
The way food is produced, marketed, packaged, sold to us and consumed has changed in too many ways to count. What might ordinarily have been considered ‘food’ is perhaps now ‘whole foods’ and a large proportion of many Western diets are now considered ‘ultra-processed foods (UPFs)’ - possibly the buzz-phrase of 2023/24.
The changes in how food is produced and consumed, the amazing accessibility of UPFs, clever marketing and the fast pace of many of our lives means unfortunately food literacy has taken a hit.
I’m determined, like many others, to take us back to our roots and find what real ‘food’ is and looks like, and communicate this to our children in a healthy way right from the start.
It’s not that I’m saying ‘out with all things processed’ or ‘no packaged snacks allowed’ - not at all. As a family we occasionally enjoy foods that would be considered UPFs and Harry has packaged snacks like oat bars, fruit roll-ups and crackers.
But if we can understand what food is like in it’s natural form, we can make better choices - and our children can too.
Anyway - the fact that food production worldwide has in recent times moved away from the real stuff and towards packaged stuff means that food illiteracy is something that can affect all of us. Which means it is important!
What does food (il)literacy mean for food waste? 🗑️
Food waste is another hot topic and one we should take seriously of course.
If we are food illiterate we might not know that we can save certain parts of food, that we can eat the whole animal, not just the breast/wings/legs, that we don’t have to throw away the leaves of certain vegetables, and that fruit or veg that is going off can still be chucked in a smoothie or made into a cake or whatever else you fancy making.
We can economise the way we eat as a family by considering expanding our knowledge on what parts of food we can eat and which we should chuck, and we can impart this knowledge to our children too.
I know how frustrating food waste can be to parents of small children.. because I feel it too!
But it’s so complicated..
I hear ya. 🙋♀️
With food and nutrition becoming so popular across allll the social media platforms, and fad diets growing in popularity too, it can be hard to navigate the noise.
But there are certain principles about food, like:
adequate protein intake
eating fibre with meals
limiting processed foods
meeting nationally/internationally agreed nutrient requirements
eating as a family
limiting sugary snacks between meals
eating a variety of ‘real’ foods
which are widely agreed and to be honest, non-negotiable, especially when it comes to feeding little ones.
So, if you stick to these, and listen to the views and voices of people who align with your health priorities, who speak to you, who support you and who use evidence to inform the information they are sharing - well, you can’t go too far wrong.
Food literacy exists as a concept amongst the principles I have shared above. It’s something to hold in mind. It’s part of thinking long term, slow and steady, like I always advocate when it comes to offering food to small people. It’s something you can equip your child with so as they grow they can hold the principles you have practised and know how to nourish themselves and make choices which feel ‘right’ for their body and health.
Check out my post on Instagram for some ways you can encourage food literacy at home.
Issy xx