What do dieticians mean when they talk about having a good relationship with food? More importantly, what does it look like? In a recent episode of Food For Mzansi’s weekly Gather To Grow, we switched things up on the twitter streets and answered these food health questions.
The session led by Food For Mzansi’s editor for audience and engagement, Dawn Noemdoe, featured Health For Mzansi’s editor, Noluthando Ngcakani, who unpacked what a healthy food relationship looked like.
Health For Mzansi is Food For Mzansi’s sister lifestyle publication, focusing on Kasi health and wellness.
The line-up included registered dieticians Jason van Heerden, Rosalind van Schoor and Retha Harmse.
To kick off the conversation, Van Schoor unpacked what a healthy relationship with food means. “It means that you can eat foods that you enjoy and that make you feel good, mentally and physically. Basically, not labelling food as good and bad, but just to make eating a very positive experience,” she said.
The dieticians explained that one should think about how certain foods make one feel mentally, emotionally and physically. Will it energise you or simply make you feel guilty?
Having a healthy food relationship also means that you do not feel the need to justify your food choices. This often happens when your are out with family.
Organic doesn’t mean better
When thinking of typically healthy foods, the perception is that it has to be organic. However, Harmse, said this is a myth.
“Organic actually also uses pesticides, there are just certain ones that are maybe not on the specific list of pesticides that people are aware of.
“In terms of organic foods versus your everyday fresh produce, I would recommend non-organic. Organic has this health halo [and is] actually not that much better than normal produce.”
Dietician Retha Harmse
However, if you are already cooking straight from your own garden, you do not necessarily have to revert back to store bought produce. It is your choice after all.
Agreeing with Harmse, Van Heerden added that it all comes back to the dosage.
“Can pesticides have an effect on health? Yes, if you have an excessive amount. There are many articles that explain how much of a food you need to [consume] in order to get to the pesticide level that will have an effect, and it is an excessive amount.
“Say for instance you had to eat 200 apples a day to get to that pesticide level. I am much more worried about your gut processing 200 apples a day than the potential pesticide levels.”
ALSO READ: World Health Day: A farmer’s role in human health
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