Grocery shopping in Kathmandu has become more than just a routine task for parents-it is a battle against the unhealthy temptations cleverly placed in stores. As a mother of two young children, I have noticed how a simple trip to stores like Bhatbhateni and Big Mart often turns into a struggle to keep my 7-year-old away from the brightly packaged, sugary snacks that are deliberately positioned at her eye level. These products are not only visually appealing but also within easy reach, making them hard for children to resist.
This challenge is not unique to my experience. Many parents face the same issue, and it is not just an inconvenience-it is a significant public health concern. A article in The Kathmandu Post, dated August 23, 2024, titled "Nepalis Became Avid Junk Food Eaters After 2015 Earthquakes, Report Says", highlighted that 45 percent of Nepalis regularly consume salty and fried snacks, while 11 percent do not eat any vegetables at all. The information was published as a part of the Global Food Policy Report 2024: Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition available here. The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022 also found that sixty-nine percent (69%) of children aged 6–23 months consume unhealthy foods. These alarming statistics underscore the growing problem of unhealthy dietary habits in Nepal, especially among children.
The Hidden Dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods
In today's fast-paced world, convenience often trumps nutrition when it comes to our food choices. Enter ultra-processed foods (UPFs) - those brightly packaged, ready-to-eat items that seem to fill every aisle of the grocery store. But what exactly are these foods, and why should we be cautious about them?
UPFs are industrially made products packed with a long list of ingredients including a significant amount of additives such as added sugars, oils, fats, salt, and a cocktail of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, but are low in vitamins and fibre. The food items undergo multiple industrial processes and often contain colour. We can think of things like sugary drinks, candies, ice cream, chips, instant noodles, and all those tempting snacks that are so easy to grab on the go.
These foods have become incredibly popular, and it is easy to see why. They are convenient, widely accessible, have a long shelf life, and are designed to taste great, making them hard to resist. Whether you live in a bustling city or a remote village, UPFs are likely to be part of your diet. Even in remote villages without transportation facilities, these foods are still easily accessible.
The Downside of Convenience
While UPFs may be easy to find and quick to prepare, they come with a hidden cost to our health. These foods are often loaded with calories, unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt - all of which can contribute to weight gain and a host of diet-related health issues. Over time, relying on UPFs can push out more nutritious foods from our diets, leading to poor nutrition, especially in children. The more we consume these ultra-processed foods, the more we are at risk for health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Earlier in February 2024, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) published a review of 45 studies conducted over the last three years, involving about 10 million people (Reasons to avoid ultra-processed foods | The BMJ) . The review linked diets rich in UPFs with increased risks of premature death, cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders, diabetes, obesity, and sleep problems.
What Can We Do?
Being aware of the impact of UPFs is the first step. We should try to balance convenience with nutrition by including more whole foods in our meals and look for options that are less processed.
Educating children about healthy eating is crucial, but it is not enough on its own.
First, we must start at house home. TheHealthy, a Reader's Digest publication, suggests 10 ways to train your brain to hate junk food:
Watch out for hidden sugars – Learn to identify sneaky sugars in food labels.
Avoid colorful plates – Bright colors can make junk food more appealing.
Keep sweets out of sight – Store them where you're less likely to see or reach for them.
Keep healthy snacks accessible – Make healthier options easy to grab.
Recognize your trigger foods – Be mindful of the foods that make you crave more junk and keep them out of the house.
Gross yourself out – Remind yourself of the negative effects of junk food to curb cravings.
Chew more than you need – Chewing thoroughly helps you eat smaller portions.
Reduce junk food intake gradually – Slowly cut back instead of going cold turkey.
Practice mindful eating
As parents, we do our best to teach healthy habits at home, but we must also recognize that children are exposed to environments beyond our control, such as schools, playgrounds, and, most importantly, grocery stores. It's important for everyone in these environments to be aware of the negative effects of unhealthy foods and to try to limit their presence as much as possible.
The way unhealthy snacks are placed in stores plays a big role in shaping our children's eating habits. In response, some countries have adopted laws to limit how high-fat, high-sugar items are promoted in stores. For example, the UK introduced rules in October 2022 to stop these items from being displayed in prominent spots like store entrances and checkouts, and online homepages. Studies show that good product placements can push sales up by as much as 50 per cent. The Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)
It is crucial that the government of Nepal takes decisive action to regulate the advertisement and placement of ultra-processed foods in locations easily accessible to children. Municipalities can play a key role in the urban setting by monitoring the placement of these foods in grocery stores. Simultaneously, there must be a robust campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of consuming these unhealthy products. Retailers must recognize the profound impact of their advertising and product placement strategies and take immediate responsibility by promoting healthier options.
Sharma, Postdoctoral Fellow, Inclusive Governance and Nutrition-sensitive Agri-food system, International Water Management Institute