New healthier basic food basket represents different advantages, says nutritionist

A basic basket with more natural products and no ultra-processed products. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s decision, with decree nº 11,936, brings to light discussions about the price, components and conservation of food in Brazil.

According to the determination, the new basic basket now contains beans (legumes);
cereals; roots and tubers; vegetables and greens; fruits; chestnuts and nuts (oilseeds); Meat and eggs; milk and cheese;
Sugars, salt, oils and fats; and coffee, tea, mate and spices.

According to nutritionist Amanda Soares, specialized in functional clinics and phytotherapy, from a nutritional point of view, fresh foods have several advantages.

In addition to having more health benefits, reducing the development of diseases and improving quality of life, there is a variety of options and preparations that can be adapted according to the region of the population.

“Another important point of this basket is the greater ease of adaptation for individuals with dietary restrictions, as they have fresh foods”, says the specialist.

Waste

On the other hand, Amanda states that a lack of nutritional education can lead to the waste of these highly perishable foods.

For her, it is necessary to remember that, in the search for a healthy diet, there is a dilemma between choosing less processed foods, which spoil quickly, or non-perishable foods, which despite being more resistant to time and storage methods, do not always have good quality. nutrient levels, creating a challenge when it comes to maintaining a balanced diet.

One of the main obstacles is that many families do not have access to information about the benefits of minimally processed foods.

“The lack of instruction regarding the preparation of these foods and their advantages makes it difficult to handle and preserve them”, comments Amanda.

Although children in public institutions receive these guidelines, fathers and mothers still face significant challenges in this regard.

It is possible, according to the expert, to make good use of the basic food basket, as long as there is access to information.

For the nutritionist, places such as Emergency Care Units (UPAs) and Basic Health Units (UBSs) can play a crucial role in disseminating this information, providing families with the necessary knowledge to make healthier food choices and be able to make the most of it. from them.

By Ágata Vaz, Beatriz Vasconcelos and Kallebe Simões

Supervision by Luiz Claudio Ferreira