Introduction
Food is a vital need in all living things and must be given the greatest level of attention since it forms the basis of life, but in most cases, human beings have found themselves in states where they risk their health for junk food which has led to health complications like high blood pressure through eating unhealthy food. The unhealthy food contains saturated fat, sugared drinks, red meat and cholesterol while healthy food has whole grains, white meat, nuts and low levels of fat. This essay focuses on ways to make healthy food available to the poor people.
Ways of Making Healthy Food Available to the Poor
Prioritizing aids given to the needy is a key issue in ensuring that the less fortunate get healthy food. Instead of giving artificially prepared and canned food, the donors should raise funds and buy whole grains in bulk to be given to the poor who in turn prepare the food in a healthy way (Mateljan 11). The poor will have a chance to eat food with high nutritional value and free from additives.
Planting of drought resistant crops like yams, arrow roots, cassava, millet and sorghum will ensure the poor have access to healthy foods all the year round. In most cases, the poor are forced to buy junk food since fresh vegetables and fruits cost a fortune during the dry season, but with careful planning and planting the drought resistant crops, they will have healthy food all year round
Public awareness on the types of unhealthy foods and their effects on people is a possible way of ensuring the poor are not exposed to unhealthy food. The government should ensure they educate their citizens on the dangers of junk food and advocate for fresh healthy traditional foods.
The government should carry out wide research on crops that mature within the shortest time to ensure there is food all the year round. This will reduce overdependence on specific food that take too long to mature and hence will diversify the options of food in the market (Mateljan 17). Likewise, there will be high supply of food in the markets which will have a drastic drop of their prices to affordable rates by the poor people.
Costs of food production is usually reflected by high prices for such foods in the market which is far way beyond the ability of the poor to purchase hence they resort to buying ready food from the supermarkets and restaurants. Governments should subsidize farm implements and tools like fuel, chemicals, seeds and fertilizers to ensure that farmers do not incur heavy costs in preparation and production of food.
Family planning should be encouraged in all countries that have a high population growth rate. Due to high birth rates especially in developing nations, there is great pressure on the current land meant for food production. Whenever population increases while land continues to remain constant, there will be scarcity of food and people will resort to buying junk and fast food (Mateljan 23). The poor should be encouraged to bring up families they are able to take care of without straining.
Conclusion
It is very possible to make healthy food available to all people regardless of their economic status and maintain a healthy lifestyle if only people will be committed to eat home made food and avoid the temptations of buying quick foods.
Works Cited
Mateljan, George. The Worlds Healthiest Foods: Essential Guide for the Healthiest. New Jersey: GMF Publishing, 2007. Print.