UNICEF India launches #MeriThaliSehatwali digital campaign to promote healthy diets and food choices

New Delhi : UNICEF India launched Meri Thali Sehatwali (my plate is a healthy plate), a digital campaign to promote healthy eating and healthy food choices for the whole family. This initiative is part of a nation-wide effort to improve food environments and diets toward realizing the vision of a well-nourished India. The digital campaign aims to reach a wide range of audiences with targeted messages through engaging content i.e. static posts, videos, and jingles.

Underlining the importance of adopting healthy eating, Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative said, “Our food choices, what we eat, are significant drivers of our growth and well-being across lifecycle. A healthy and balanced diet is important for children and youth to thrive and grow. Different stages of life have different dietary needs such as during childhood, adolescence, pregnancy. Yet not everyone is well informed about what healthy diets constitute for different age group members in the family. Through this digital campaign, UNICEF aims to complement government and partner efforts that bridge the awareness gap and promote healthy eating for the whole family.”

The Meri Thali Sehatwali campaign is built on six simple but important healthy tips for families and decision makers:
1. Optimum breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices for infants and children under 2 years of age.
2. Extra healthy breakfast and snacks for adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
3. Adolescent girls and women should not eat last and least.
4. For the whole family – at any age and every day – eat diverse-colourful plates filled with local and seasonal ingredients.
5. Say no to junk food (ultra-processed foods and foods high in sugar, salt and/or fat).
6. Whatever your age, play, move and remain active.

Beside underweight and micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity are also emerging as global challenges. Approximately 56 percent of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, are caused due to unhealthy diets. Diverse and healthy diets and being active can prevent this.

 

 

#MeriThaliSehatwali campaign call-to-action is directed to increase awareness, leading to healthy eating, across the entire life-cycle.