BY : Fiza Hanif,Szabist Karachi.
The absence of healthy foods in our urban centers has become a matter of serious
concern. Be it schools, offices, or public spaces, fast foods and processed food
rule the roost, leaving very few healthy options for individuals who are keen to
eat clean. This is not only defining unhealthy diets but is also leading to terrifying
health concerns like obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases, particularly among the
youth.
Sadly, food vendors and restaurants focus more on profits than on health by
offering cheap, unhygienic, and high-calorie meals. Meanwhile, fresh fruits,
vegetables, and healthy meals are difficult to access or are beyond the reach of a
common consumer. The lack of regulations and consciousness is also contributing
to the crisis, as healthy options are out of reach for the majority of citizens.
It is time that the authorities make healthy food options a priority and promote
and regulate their availability. Public campaigns, subsidized healthy meals at
workplaces and schools, and stringent checks on the sale of junk food can help
solve this problem immensely. A nation cannot develop when its citizens are
sickly, and access to healthy food must become a priority in the country.
