Sustainable diets and biodiversity

• Low consumption levels of traditional fresh fruits
  and vegetables contribute significantly to
  micronutrient deficiency.


• Wrong choice of food and age-long food/dietary
  habits affected adequate nutrient intake.

There are community variations in the contribution

of specific food groups.

• In the southern states in Nigeria, starchy roots
  and tubers, legumes, nuts and seeds made
  substantial contributions to energy intake.


• In northern Nigeria, legumes and cereals
  significantly contribute to the intake of energy.

Conclusion

• Malnutrition characterized by undernutrition is
  prevalent in Nigeria.


• Undernutrition can be reduced significantly when
  the traditional Nigerian food system is improved
  using a combination of strategies including nutrition
  education.


• One of the main areas that need attention if our
  traditional food system will assure food security is
  encouragement of vegetable and fruit consumption.
  Figures 2 and 3 above show that vegetable and
  fruit consumption improved significantly after
  nutrition education of the school children.


• Poverty causes and aggravates malnutrition.


• Need to draw attention to traditional foods that
  are almost forgotten in preference to westernized
  diets that invaded our food system.

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