Every year on April 7th, World Health Day is celebrated globally to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948, each year with a different health-centric focus.
What is World Health Day?
It’s that time of year again, when we embrace the week dedicated in its entirety to food that is nutritious and delicious. The World Health Organisation’s World Health Day is an annual event that highlights easy ways to healthier lifestyles.
The week sets out to get everyone engaged and excited about health. This year’s theme is My health, my right, to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information, safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.
The history of the WHO
In April 1945 during the conference to set up the United Nations (UN) in San Francisco, there was a proposal to establish an international health organization and the Constitution of the World Health Organization was adopted by the UN. The first Health Assembly opened in Geneva on 24 June 1948 with delegations from 53 Member States.
How can we make healthier choices?
- Mind your fibre! It’s easy to find tasty sources of fibre that make snacking healthy. From bananas to cereal bars, kale smoothies and broccoli salads, bring on the green and boost your fibre intake.
- 5-a-day for a happy day! Start the day with berries on your cereal, smash an avocado onto your multi-grain toast, topped with soft boiled eggs for a breakfast fit for kings, and then dip apple slices into peanut butter or honey. Mix a huge salad for lunch and you’ve done more than 5 before the day is halfway done!
- Protein packs a punch. Plain chicken breast? No way! Eggs, nuts, cheese – you can make protein tasty, varied and delicious a hundred ways. Roast a salmon fillet in some soy and honey with sesame seeds on top, or griddle chicken legs with lemon, dates and pistachios for a Middle Eastern delight. And pack some pulses in to boost your protein. Add a tin of lentils to your rice with some flaked almonds and pomegranate seeds topped with dried apricots and made perfect with Italian dressing for a delicious rice salad.
- Water rules. Boost your hydration to stay healthy. Our bodies need 2 litres a day, which is boring, we know, but there are ways to do it in a fun way. Have a bottle with you throughout the day and if you need an incentive to drink, add some lemons and ginger for flavour or even a cheeky touch of sugar-free squash if you’re a juice lover.
- Go green. How can we eat well and reduce food waste? Let’s talk portion size. How much do you really throw away? If you’re anything like us at Quattro Foods you’ll never leave a crumb on the plate – clean crockery all round – but millions don’t, and food waste is a huge problem. So if you know you’re not going to eat it all, or if you’re not that hungry, don’t cook it all.
Find out more about World Health Day online – everyone can play a part in supporting global health, from raising awareness to campaigning. Join us!