New Delhi: More than 820 million people in the world are still hungry today, underscoring the immense challenge of achieving the Zero Hunger target by 2030, reveals the state of food security and nutrition in the world 2019, released by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation). To tackle global hunger, October 16 is celebrated annually as World Food Day. On this day of action, people from around the world join hands and show their commitment towards the goal of ‘zero hunger’. Today, as we celebrate World Food Day, here is everything you need to know about the day.
History Of World Food Day
The World Food Day is celebrated to mark the day Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations was founded in 1945. With participation from 150 countries, World Food Day is one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. Together, the countries and individuals plan events and awareness campaigns, promoting the theme, importance of nutrition and healthy eating habits and an overarching vision of a world where no one sleeps on an empty stomach or is malnourished.
Theme For World Food Day 2019
The first World Food Day was celebrated in 1981 with a theme of ‘food comes first’. Over the years, the theme has changed but the call to action has always been ‘zero hunger’. This year the theme for World Food Day is ‘Healthy Diets For A #ZeroHunger World.’ Considering the continuous development in our diet pattern, eating habits and lifestyle changes, it is about time to focus on healthy diets.
According to FAO’s website,
Achieving Zero Hunger is not only about addressing hunger, but also nourishing people, while nurturing the planet. This year, World Food Day calls for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone. At the same time, it calls on everyone to start thinking about what we eat.
Also Read: Delhi Government Drafts Policy To Check Food Wastage At Social Functions
While the world is targetting to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030, the Global Hunger Index report of 2019 released on October 15 ranked India at 102 out of 117 countries assessed and put it in a ‘serious’ category. India’s child wasting (low weight for height which stems from lack of nutrition and frequent infections) rate is extremely high at 20.8 percent and stunting (low height for age) at 37.9 percent. Also, only 9.6 percent of all children between 6 and 23 months of age in the country are fed a minimum acceptable diet.
Also Read: Global Hunger Index 2019 Highlights The Crisis Of Wasting And Stunting Among The Children In India
The current status of India calls for action and you can help the nation improve its rank by reducing food wastage.
How You Can Contribute To The Target Of Zero Hunger By 2030
1. Remember to always take what you can finish. There is no point overloading your plate and then tossing the food in the dustbin.
2. The same rule applies while doing grocery shopping. Don’t go bonkers just because it is a sale and or you are going to get a heavy discount. Buy only what you will be able to utilise before the expiry date.
3. Start using your leftover meals smartly. For instance, leftover daal from dinner can be used next morning for making daal ka paratha.
4. Cook with ‘zero waste’ as your mantra. Be it stalk, skin, or leaves try not to discard any part as waste, as these also carry some essential nutrients. For instance, cauliflower stem can be used along with florets. Also, what is waste for you can be nutritious food for someone else.
5. Instead of discarding the surplus food, donate it to a food bank that can then distribute it among people in need.
Also Read: Cook Smart, Eat Smarter: Five Easy Ways To Curb Food Wastage At Home
