Capitalizing Grocery Shelf Labels: A Step Towards Nutritional Advocacy?
One more thing to add to your grocery list .
Do you ever find yourself probing at the grocery shelves to find budget-friendly or discounted items on your busy days? Due to food safety concerns, this task might become a thorough chore of flipping packages to read the labels. Simply listing nutrients can confuse even those with a moderate understanding of nutrition. It is increasingly accepted that the goal of nutritional labeling is to assist consumers in making informed choices about nutritionally balanced foods for meal planning. However, the real question here is: Can everyone understand it? Do you think people will remain averse to novelty?
Let’s consider the majority of buyers in the youngest nation. This population has played a major role in shifting consumerism towards ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat meals due to hustle culture or a lack of cooking literacy, which is by choice. This has boomed the market with continental cuisine in the form of packaged foods. Humans being creatures of habit, why was no one reading the labels until now? Was making homemade traditional meals from scratch, the Indian cultural food, and being the agricultural nation we are, getting most of the produce making labels least important? Survival of the fittest teaches us that change should be embraced to metamorphose oneself to live the best life. With the future leaning towards urbanization, will everyone participate in nutritional advocacy or choose to renunciate the past by promoting cooking literacy and resorting to home gardening, promoting vertical farming, and indoor agriculture in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)?
Furthermore, employing Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labeling (FoPNL) in India, such as the Indian Nutritional Rating (INR) system and Nutri-Score label (NS) for packaged goods might just make label reading easier and less time-consuming, easing it into a routine.
Practical Tips for Incorporating Label Reading into Daily Life:
a. Make it a Habit:
Incorporate label reading into your grocery shopping routine. With practice, it will become second nature.
b. Plan Meals:
Use label information to plan well-balanced meals. For instance, if a product is high in sodium, balance it with lower-sodium options in your meal plan.
c. Involve the Family:
Engage your family, including children, in label reading and decision-making during grocery trips. This not only makes shopping more enjoyable but also educates everyone about healthy choices.
d. Stay Informed:
Keep yourself updated on changes in nutritional labeling laws and recommendations. This ensures that your decisions are always based on the most current information.
In conclusion, by incorporating these practical tips into your daily life, you can empower yourself and your family to make healthier food choices. With diligence and awareness, reading food labels can become a natural part of your routine, leading to better nutrition and overall well-being.
#healthadvocacy #consumerism
