By Ms. Nayo Swan
How is the Caribbean one of the most nutrient-rich food regions in the entire world, yet we have one of the highest non-communicable disease burdens worldwide? We have markets overflowing with fruits and vegetables yet our populations meet an early grave from preventable illnesses such high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and more. The theme for Caribbean Nutrition Day this year is; “Healthy Eating, Active Living: Promoting Caribbean Foods as Medicine.” As diabetes, obesity, hypertension and other preventable illnesses continue to rise across the Caribbean region, we now more than ever need Caribbean governments to pass strategic health policy to ensure access to healthier food systems, education and infrastructure for their people.
Eating Local:
The Caribbean’s food over-reliance on the US, China and Europe classifies them as net importers of food,with that being 90% of what is consumed here. This phenomenon highlights regional food security as a necessity. Guyana, the bread basket of the Caribbean is currently the only country in the world that can produce enough food across the seven essential food groups, to feed its entire population. President Irfaan Ali of Guyana leading the 25 by 2025; (a CARICOM target to reduce the regional food bill by 25% by 2025), has already noted a 24% increase in regional food production.
The Cayman Islands imports over 90% of their food, with 80% of that total passing through US ports. However, in recent years with the fragility of global supply chains, there has been a growing push to expand local food production in Cayman; like many other Caribbean countries, and rely less on food imports. The government’s implementation of the NEST programme which aims to improve and eventually provide domestic egg production which based on 2025 data is currently up to a 53% self-sufficiency rate. Alongside that, the launch of the Backyard Garden provided selected residents with grow boxes, seeds and planting guidance to encourage long term food production. These two programmes are a part of the Cayman Islands Food & Nutrition Security Policy to strengthen food security and sustainability by 2036. In addition to strengthening regional food systems, it is essential that we ensure healthy food affordability so our populations aren’t pushed to buy cheaper unhealthier alternatives.
Caribbean Food is Medicine:
There is a misconception that Caribbean food is unhealthy and it’s imperative to our health that we challenge and correct this narrative. Our traditional staples have always been nutritious. In this region of callaloo, breadfruit, cassava, plantains, okra, saltfish, beans, and so much more, we have to however be wary of not only of our portion sizes, but how we have allowed the infiltration of the Caribbean diet by ultra-processed food and excess sodium intake. These behavioural habits must be addressed early through aggressive and culturally relevant school and community based educational campaigns. CARPHA’s “Kids Can Cook Too” and Guyana’s “Colourful Cooking for Healthy Living” are both recipe books published to reduce the onset of non-communicable diseases, targeting children and adults respectively. Both cookbooks seek to empower Caribbean citizens to make healthy eating a priority while preserving cultural traditions.
Let’s Move More!
In this era of technological advances and screen addictions, we are all sitting more and moving less. Multiple Caribbean countries have launched initiatives to combat sedentary lifestyles across their populations to encourage more physical activity. This year the Cayman Islands launched the National Movement Challenge allowing residents to gradually incorporate more physical activity into their routines over a 12-week period. However, these habits should be developed from young; in 2023 Barbados launched the Creative Play Initiative which introduced life-sized versions of children’s games to foster even more movement among school students.
This Caribbean Nutrition Month, it is imperative Caribbean governments continue to invest in multifactorial approaches when preventing these avoidable illnesses. Caribbean food isn’t just culture, it is a vital source of nourishment and wellness. We have to strengthen our regional food systems here at home to make healthy food accessible for present populations and sustainable for future populations.
Ms. Nayo Swan is a Guyanese Public Health advocate based in the Cayman Islands and a member of Healthy Caribbean Youth
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