Healthy Eating in Pakistan – An Impossible Journey?

There was a time, many, many years ago when healthy eating and the shift towards organic products were considered nothing more than an outlier of the hipster movement. However, around the world, as the years have gone by, the market for organic products has grown exponentially. Why is this so, and how does this work in the local context? Let’s explore the fascinating world of healthy eating in Pakistan.

Eating healthy in the world of salan and naan:

Pakistani food is wonderful. It is delicious, it is the perfect fix after a day of sweltering heat or bone-shivering cold, but it is a far cry from healthy – or so we think. After all, Pakistan is falling ill; with record-breaking statistics for heart disease and various other problems, it is no doubt food is a significant factor. Many of the foods we eat are high calorie, high fat, and very high in carbohydrates and proteins. Interestingly, this does not make them unhealthy. In essence, no nutritionist in the world will completely discourage you from taking on high nutritional foods. However, they may ask you to take them in moderation.

With the market interest in organic foods reaching Pakistan, there is a sudden spring of new restaurants around significant cities, focused on the creation of natural and healthy eating. Many of these spaces also take on a holistic approach – along with foods, they will also share various other products that are also healthy and clean. Numerous other areas in Pakistan now give details about the number of calories in each dish, what it contains, and even offer vegetarian and gluten-free recipes. Eating healthy in Pakistan is not as difficult as it may seem at first. Although finding healthy substitutes for commonly used items may be difficult and expensive, it is not difficult to find fruits and vegetables from organic sellers in the country. Many small scale farmers who do not have access to pesticides and fertilizers use organic methods already.

The ‘log kya kahein gaye’ problem:

Perhaps the gravest problem for people attempting to switch up their diet in Pakistan isn’t whether products are available. In essence, it is what people will say when they find out. For many people who switch over to organic foods or decide to become vegetarian/vegan, there is an intense backlash from those who do not understand the reasoning behind the switch in diet.

This, especially when coming from a place of power, can become difficult. Nazia*, a young woman in Lahore hoping to change her diet, shares the same concerns. “Every time I suggest taking on a healthy diet, my family creates an uproar,” she says. “My mother becomes personally offended that I am refusing a dish she made. I can’t do anything but stick to the traditional diet because I don’t want to cause problems.” Nazia* is not alone in this feeling. Many young people hoping to move to organic foods are told a Western way of thinking is influencing them.

What is healthy eating?

The term healthy eating seems easy enough to understand, but this broad term is far more significant than it appears to be on first look. Since its boom in industries around the world, healthy eating has come to mean different things for different people. For some, it is a low-calorie food that will help you quickly lose weight. For others, it’s the opposite – high protein intake so that you can increase your body weight and mass. There is no one way to describe the market for healthy eating. Still, doctors and nutritionists describe healthy food like the kind of diet that is balanced, includes all the nutritional requirements, and is catered specifically to your body and needs.

It is easy to put up a complete guide to healthy eating online – eat too little, eat more, etc. However, nutritionists urge consumers to take a more proactive approach. The human body is not a one-size-fits-all. Like you cannot go online and come up with a complete treatment plan for your sore throat, you cannot come up with a diet plan (or any changes to your diet) without the help of a trained professional, who can guide you through the ins and outs of what does and doesn’t work for your body specifically.

The puzzle of organic foods:

Organic foods, on the other hand, are an exciting step forward. In essence, they are, by definition, foods that do not contain any chemical additives, including fertilizer, growth stimulants, hormones, antibiotics, etc. The idea is that foods are grown and sourced without the addition of any chemicals and that substances, by definition, take away from the healthiness. This is not a stretch from reality; research shows that in the absence of additives, plant crops are more likely to boost the production of helpful substances that promote healing and improve the foods’ nutritional value. This is helped even further by the fact that pesticides and other chemicals are known to cause significant damage to our food chains. Not only can they harm us, but they seep into the environment and cause serious consequences that threaten the whole system.

So it should be a given. Is organic eating the healthiest way to eat? It turns out it isn’t so easy. The vagueness of the term organic juxtaposed with the need for any industry to turn profits can lead to dangerous results. If we’re talking about the impact on the environment, these foods tend to have a massive carbon and water footprint, meaning they are a far cry from the ‘green foods’they’ve been allotted. But does this mean they’re inherently wrong? Scientists would collectively conclude no. However, there is a lot of speculation that may just be based on guessing. According to a researcher at the Stanford School of Medicine, “There’s a definite lack of evidence.”

So how do I get healthy food in Pakistan?

If you’re wondering where you can go to access clean food, the answer put is anywhere at all. It is interesting to note how the market around fresh food works – you must buy costly items, use expensive equipment, and create low-calorie foods. When we look at statistics in Pakistan, perhaps it is important to note that it is not the kind of food that is making people sick, but maybe the lack of it altogether. With more than 60% of the population in Pakistan dealing with unstable access to food (food insecurity), it is no wonder that the country is falling sick.

Of course, using clean foods, with little to no chemical additives will only be helpful for the environment. Still, perhaps this issue is better put into perspective when looking at Pakistan as a whole. So, what is healthy eating? Is it top-notch organic foods created with no preservatives, or is it access to an essential, fully nutritional diet? It can be argued that both exist simultaneously. For some, it can be the logical next step to cut out high-calorie foods from their diet. For others, the majority of Pakistanis, though, the push towards healthy foods means more food – better, cleaner, and higher in nutrition for all.