Happy Women’s Day!
Women’s Day, celebrated annually on 9th August, holds significant importance in South Africa as it commemorates the historic march of women against injustice and oppressive laws in 1956. This iconic protest symbolised the collective strength and determination of the women in South Africa.
Today, we are reminded of the courage, resilience, and power of women in shaping society and promoting positive change. We celebrate their accomplishments and contributions to all aspects of life, including their vital roles in managing household nutrition and food preparation. However, amidst the celebration, there is a need to address misleading food marketing that can negatively influence women’s food choices and, consequently, their families health.
Recently in South Africa, billboard advertisements aimed at women have been raising eyebrows due to their misleading claims about traditional foods and seed oils. The ad entices women to deep-fry with seed oils, advocating this method as the epitome of tradition and flavor. Thus, overshadowing potentially healthier cooking alternatives.
In this blog post, we delve into the implications of such marketing and explore the need to promote healthier choices for women and their families.
“You are crazy, for making your half-moons in the air fryer!”
A “half-moon” is a type of savory pastry.
Women’s Day and the Influence of Women in Food Choices:
Women have long been the backbone of their families, ensuring their health and well-being through food choices and the meals they prepare. As primary caregivers and providers for their families, women’s connection to food is deeply rooted by their responsibility for planning, shopping, and cooking meals that cater to the specific needs and preferences of their loved ones.
Moreover, women are trendsetters in the culinary world, continuously introducing new recipes, ingredients, and cooking techniques to their families and communities, ultimately shaping cultural identities through food as their expertise is passed down through generations.
As we acknowledge and recognise women’s efforts, empowering them with nutritional information is important for promoting healthier lifestyles and contributing to healthier outcomes for their families and communities.
Challenging Misleading Marketing:
Reference:
The recent billboard advertisements, aimed at women, raises concerns about the impact of misleading food marketing on their decision making and food choices. Suggesting that deep-frying with seed oils is superior to other cooking methods can lead women to believe they are making beneficial choices for their families.
The marketing campaign’s claim of superiority may create a misconception that deep-frying with seed oils is a healthier option. As a result, women may feel confident in their choice and disregard alternative healthier cooking methods that are better for their family’s well-being.
By emphasising tradition, the ad also evokes a sense of cultural familiarity and nostalgia, associating deep-frying with seed oils as the “authentic” and “time-honored” method of cooking traditional foods. These emotional connections further deter women from exploring healthier alternatives.
Furthermore, this marketing fails to inform women of the potential health risks associated with excessive seed oil and refined carbohydrate consumption. Therefore, women may unknowingly continue to use seed oils for deep-frying without understanding the implications for their family’s health.
Such marketing messages undermine women’s efforts to make informed decisions about their family’s health.
The Dangers of Seed Oils:
Seed oils, such as corn, sunflower, canola, and soybean oils, have become popular in modern cooking and food processing, making their way into our everyday diets. While they offer affordability and versatility, their excessive consumption poses significant health risks due to their high omega-6 fatty acid content.
Although omega-6 fatty acids are essential for various physiological functions in our bodies, the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is crucial for optimal health. However, due to the widespread use of seed oils, the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids ratio in our bodies becomes imbalanced, as our omega-6 fatty acid content increases. Since omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation, an inflammatory environment develops, contributing to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is the underlying factor of many health issues and the development of various chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and cancers.
Therefore, it is important to be mindful of the types of oils that we include in our diet and to seek healthier alternatives that promote a better balance for ourselves and family’s well-being.
Reimagining Traditional Foods:
In pursuit of healthier lifestyles, it is essential to reevaluate the concept of “traditional foods” and steer towards making more healthier choices. While many traditional dishes hold cultural significance and cherished memories, embracing a healthier approach to these culinary legacies promotes better nutrition and improved well-being.
Rather than relying on processed and refined foods, emphasising on the importance of using whole, unprocessed ingredients in our meals, will unlock the true potential of these traditional dishes and transform them into nourishing wholesome delights.
By making small changes to our traditional methods, we can still celebrate and enjoy the rich flavors that these dishes have to offer while benefiting from the goodness of whole, unprocessed ingredients for optimal nutrition and health.
Embracing True South African Traditional Foods:
The World Health Organization suggests that healthy indigenous foods be promoted as they tend to be cheaper and more culturally acceptable than new foods. This is true for some traditions. However, in South Africa’s case, traditional foods have become a cross-breed concept, thanks to the introduction of westernised crops. Our heritage foodways have been negatively associated with poverty and social lowliness, and are rejected for higher-status junk food.
South Africa boasts a rich culinary heritage that offers numerous nutritious options. South African traditional foods lie in their simplicity and use of locally sourced ingredients. By embracing such simplicity, true authentic South African traditional foods promote health and well-being.
Locally sourced ingredients, including sustainably raised meats and nutrient-dense vegetables, forms the basis of these traditional foods, contributing to a healthy diet. Sustainably raised meats, thoughtfully sourced from local farmers offer superior taste, quality, and essential nutrients. Nutrient-dense vegetables also offer an abundance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that is essential for optimal health. Moreover, the use of these foods aligns with the sustainable food movement, benefitting not just our health but also the environment.
As we celebrate authentic South African traditional foods that align with the goal of promoting health, we pave the way for a more vibrant, energetic, and healthier lifestyle.
The Noakes Foundation and Eat Better SA’s Advocacy:
The Noakes Foundation (TNF) and Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) are two organizations dedicated to promoting healthier food choices through evidence-based nutrition information and education. Their aim is centered around empowering individuals, to make informed choices about their diet, while emphasizing the role of awareness in teaching people what they can do for themselves to improve their health and overall well-being.
TNF is a foundation to question the science and is committed to advancing the understanding of low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diets and its potential health benefits. Focusing on research, they aim to challenge conventional dietary guidelines, advocating for evidence-based nutrition practices that can improve health outcomes.
EBSA, with the initiative to provide practical and accurate nutrition information to the public, seeks to equip individuals, through education programs and online support, with the knowledge and tools to make healthier food choices, with what is available to them and promote healthier lifestyles.
Conclusion:
As we celebrate Women’s Day, let us join hands in challenging misleading food marketing, advocating for healthier choices, and embracing true South African traditional foods.
In a world with misleading food marketing and conflicting dietary advice, it is important that we take a moment to critically evaluate the messages and understand the potential health risks associated with certain food choices. Empowering ourselves with accurate information allows us to make more informed decisions about what we consume, allowing us to prioritise our health and well-being and steer away from choices that may be detrimental in the long run.
By re-evaluating the concept of “traditional foods” and choosing whole, unprocessed ingredients, we not only honour our past but also promote a healthier future. Through this mindful shift, we can embrace nutrient-dense vegetables, sustainably raised meats, and locally sourced ingredients as the gateway to improved health and vitality for ourselves and our families.
Through shared efforts and supporting organizations like TNF and EBSA, and a collective commitment to health, we can empower individuals with knowledge and pave the way towards a healthier and happier future for all.
References:
- Simopoulos AP. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother. 2002 Oct;56(8):365-79. doi: 10.1016/s0753-3322(02)00253-6. PMID: 12442909.
- Simopoulos AP. The omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio: health implications. OCL – Oilseeds and fats, Crops and Lipids. 2010 Sep-Oct;17(5):267-275. doi: 10.1051/ocl.2010.0349.
- Calder PC. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and chronic disease. Adv Nutr. 2012 May 1;3(3):397- 8. doi: 10.3945/an.112.002036. PMID: 22585916; PMCID: PMC3645849.
- G Chakona. Food Taboos and Cultural Beliefs Influence Food Choice and Dietary Preferences among Pregnant Women in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Nutrients. 2019 Nov; 11(11): 2668: 10.3390/nu11112668
- https://www.news24.com/news24/the-south-african-food-taboo-confronting-the-obesity-crisis-20130207
