How to stop feeding people in crisis ultra-processed food
We are in the midst of a food poverty crisis, the likes of which we have not seen in modern times — millions of people are having to go without food and everyday basics. Hunger prevents children from achieving their potential and adults from living meaningful lives.
At Well-Fed we are committed to solving food poverty and believe it can be achieved. We believe that — if all the stakeholders involved in food aid wanted it — food poverty could be solved within two years, regardless of the current cost-of-living crisis.
Our work has always focused on providing a solution to hunger. This is how we make sure every hungry person we meet has access to good fresh food.
We use profits from our social food business, which produces our range of fresh meals, cook-at-home recipe boxes and caters commercially, to feed hungry people great food. To do so, we have introduced a meal subsidy, allowing everyone to access meals at a price they can afford. Whilst we campaign for change, we’ve chosen to create a local subsidy to add real value and focus on the wellbeing of the eater.
The idea of subsidising good food is rapidly gaining traction as a means of addressing endemic problems in food supply chains. Subsidising good food allows good organisations and restaurants to address sustainability, food waste and food poverty issues, for example by sourcing ingredients from regenerative farms, paying workers fairly, making sure that food is nutritious and meals are affordable to all, with the introduction of sliding-scale prices.
Five steps to stopping food poverty that are included in all of our work:
- Focus on the health and wellbeing of the eater and only ever provide real meal options to hungry people.
- Educate the donor — only ever allow food donors to offer food that will feed hungry people well. This means removing ultra-processed products and only using targeted surplus goods — also reducing food waste.
- Allow people to pay towards their own wellbeing. For example: people pay 30% of the value of the meals/goods they receive. This can be done, we are doing it.
- When households move out of crisis, remain supportive, by providing fresh meal options that can be purchased cheaper than in any supermarkets. This is where subsidy play sits biggest role.
- Re-align school with a focus on stopping child hunger — this means making sure hungry children/families are fed from the school food budget — this can be done.
Research from the Reset series by the Rapid Transition Alliance acknowledges the power of food to transform lives and bring us joy. During the pandemic, as more people cooked at home, rather than eating out, the preparation of fresh produce increased, building skills and confidence in the kitchen. According to a survey by YouGov, 91%of British people want to cook as much (or more) than they did during the 2021 lockdowns; 71% of respondents said that they enjoyed home cooking during the pandemic.
School meals – the opportunity/ responsibility
In North Wales, the population of school-age children exceeds 85,000, presenting us with a significant responsibility to nurture the growth and development of young people. Our aim is not only to support their educational journey but to extend this commitment to their families, encouraging them tore-engage with food and cooking within the home.
Within the region, 54,066 children are in the primary school age range of 5 to 11 years. These formative years are key to healthy growth and it is our collective responsibility to make sure that every child gets the nourishment they deserve, fostering their wellbeing and future prospects.
Our approach to school food
Over the last 20 years, we have taught over 10,000 children and young people to cook, providing us with an incredible insight into what and how they like to eat. And, since 2012, we have worked extensively to provide school menus that encourage children and young people to make conscious choices about their food. With us, children and young people are encouraged to try different dishes and explore new tastes and flavours, cultivating an appreciation of a diverse range of foods; vital to their physical development and learning in school.
Working alongside our sister company Can Cook, Well-Fed draws on work in and with schools over15 years. The work includes school meals. Childhood obesity has increased by 50% and research has shown that the prevalence of UPF in children’s meals has caused children’s jaws to weaker and become smaller by about 5% in the last ten years alone. Children must be fed well.
In recent taster sessions including 300+ children, 94% of children reporting they loved the food.
We have devised a ten-point process to create ‘Good Food Schools’, based on our expertise and learning. This guarantees every pupil eats nutritionally-balanced, tasty food that they enjoy– and builds support for good food across the community.
The ten points include stopping child hunger, food training for children, teachers and parents and bi-annual food festivals.
Summary
If we are to feed everyone well, regardless of their income, we must improve the supply chain to focus on good food. School food is a key market for change, in removing UPFs within three years. This can only be driven by Government.
