Empowering Caribbean People to See that Building Healthy Communities is Possible

Over the previous 60 years, the US has performed a heightened function in shaping the meals setting within the Caribbean area via commerce agreements that profit US meals companies. Caribbean nations have turn out to be web importers of meals, with some nations importing over 80 % of their meals.^[1] These commerce agreements have created a major stream of imported meat, dairy, eggs, extremely processed meals, and US fast-food restaurant chains with promoting that normalizes a food regimen excessive in animal merchandise and processed meals; this can be a vital shift from the more healthy and principally native plant-rich food regimen of our grandparents who grew up earlier than the Sixties.

When meals insurance policies don’t prioritize well being, we should construct social actions that empower individuals and push for change. One of many some ways to perform that is to inspire individuals to eat more healthy meals for just a few weeks whereas offering data that helps them via their journey. When individuals expertise the advantages of consuming extra healthily firsthand, they’re extra prone to really feel empowered and notice that their decisions are usually not restricted to unhealthy meals. They’re additionally extra prone to help initiatives that push for higher entry to wholesome plant-based meals.

Empowering individuals to push for change is likely one of the objectives of our Vegan Caribbean Kickstart on-line pledge program. Via this program, we inspire individuals to devour extra plant-based meals by encouraging them to make a 21-day dedication to a plant-based food regimen. As a result of it’s on-line, this pledge program can also be an economical option to attain individuals all through the numerous nations that make up the gorgeous Caribbean area and the diaspora. Program individuals have interaction by consuming plant-based Caribbean meals whereas receiving data by way of an electronic mail collection about its advantages.

Though we offer a pattern meal plan, individuals are inspired to make the most of the data as a information to create their very own meals that incorporate fruits, greens, entire grains, legumes, floor provisions, and a small variety of nuts and seeds, as referenced within the T. Colin Campbell Heart for Diet Research program, one of many program sponsors. Members are inspired to devour meals which are low in fats (together with cooking oil), salt, processed sugar, and different processed components.

Since its launch roughly two years in the past, we’ve secured properly over 20,000 signups from over 25 nations, together with 22 Caribbean nations, the US, Canada, and the UK. Roughly 90 % of individuals reported that they dwell within the Caribbean area, over 78 % establish as an individual of Caribbean heritage, and over 91 % recognized as nonvegan after they registered.

We’ve obtained worthwhile suggestions and optimistic feedback from over 360 post-survey individuals. Eighty-six % pledged to proceed consuming absolutely plant-based for 4 or extra days per week. Many praised this system for selling components native to the Caribbean and offering new and relatable details about the plant-based food regimen’s capacity to help human well being, mitigate environmental considerations, and enhance animal welfare.

This program continues to efficiently have interaction individuals and assist them see that it’s attainable to construct wholesome communities.

References

1. CARICOM. CARICOM and IICA affirm alliance and prioritise actions to fight meals and vitamin insecurity and enhance the local weather resilience of agriculture within the Caribbean (Press Launch). RelielfWeb. August 9, 2023. https://reliefweb.int/report/costa-rica/caricom-and-iica-confirm-alliance-and-prioritise-actions-combat-food-and-nutrition-insecurity-and-improve-climate-resilience-agriculture-caribbean