Is the responsibility for healthy eating with the people of Brabant, or do food producers, companies, and governments have a role to play? And what exactly is a healthy food environment? These questions were central during the roundtable discussion on food with Deputy Saskia Boelema at Dutch Design Week.
Organizations working on our food environment and healthy nutrition joined the table, including: the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, the Food Pharmacy, Stichting Groentjessoep, and TU Eindhoven. Over a healthy lunch, they discussed what is needed to create a healthy food environment for young and old. Under the guidance of Annet Roodenburg (lecturer in nutrition and health at HAS Green Academy), one thing became very clear: everyone is needed for a healthy food environment.
Deputy Saskia Boelema: “We succeed in connecting parties. For example, connecting entrepreneurs to schools and ensuring that together we can create a beautiful, healthy food environment. It is Brabant’s strength that we do this together.”
Practical Examples
During the lunch, successful practical examples were discussed. For instance, the importance of green schoolyards and vegetable gardens for educational purposes and children’s health was highlighted. Behavior learned at a young age is easier to maintain later in life. There was also discussion about what is needed to change our lunch culture and the added value of food brokers for changing our eating patterns. Much is already happening to be proud of.
Dutch Design Week Inspiration
A tour of Dutch Design Week provided interesting insights to work further with. Social Designer Marleen van Bergeijk took us along various exhibitions where food and health were central. Did you know that we make 95% of our food choices unconsciously? In the ‘colab food, hungry for change’, it became clear that our food choices are driven by happiness, convenience, and money. Fast food perfectly exploits this with drive-thrus, 24/7 available food, and relatively affordable options. How can we use these forces so that we all choose healthy and sustainable food?
The tour and roundtable discussion inspired participants to take further action. We continue to work together on a healthy, accessible food environment for all people of Brabant.
