Nutrition Education and Awareness

Abbottabad University of Science and Technology

Food and Nutrition 6th Spring Semester-2024
By Mr. Yasir Aziz (Lecturer)
 Introduction
• Advances in nutrition research have provided means of prevention and
control of some of the major crippling nutritional disorder with sever
socioeconomic and health repercussions.
• The next logical step after the discovery of such solutions will be their
propagation among the concerned community members.
• Nutrition education programs, when properly implemented, have the
potential to bring out desired behavior modifications among the
communities.
• But for them to be successful, there are several obvious prerequisites such as
the right approach suited to the community appropriately, motivated change
agents, suitable educational strategies in terms of media, messages, etc.
• The ultimate impact of any nutritional education effort hinges on the extent
to which the above criteria are satisfied.
Cont.
• Nutrition education has been defined as the process by which beliefs, attitudes,
environmental influences, and understanding about food lead to practices that are
scientifically sound, practical, and consistent with individual needs and available
food resources; nutrition education should be available to all individuals and
families.
• The fundamental philosophy of nutrition education is that efforts should focus
on the establishment and protection of nutritional health rather than on crisis
intervention.
• It is needed, regardless of income, location or cultural, social or economic
practices, or level of education.
• Nutrition education must be a continuing process throughout the life cycle as
new research brings additional knowledge.
Cont.
• Education means a change in behavior. It moves the individual from lack of interest
and ignorance to increasing appreciation and knowledge and finally to action.
• Nutrition education offers a great opportunity to individuals to learn about the
essentials of nutrition for health and to take steps to improve the quality of their
diets and thus their well-being.
• Nutrition education must continue throughout the individual’s life in order to
accommodate for developments in nutrition science and for changing economic
circumstances, health requirements, and the new food products appearing in the
nation’s market.
• This requires a greatly expanded use of the mass media, and the involvement of
governmental and private agencies and universities, as well as the food industries.
Cont.
• The major focus of this type of nutrition is not knowledge and facts,
but rather the development of permanent behavioral changes.
• This is the art of nutrition education – breaking down a large body of
knowledge into small, individual components that are represented to a
patient or client at a rate and level, at which they are able to absorb
and use the information.
• Effective education is making nutrition information digestible and
usable in an everyday setting.