Despite the addition of a variety of foods in daily diet majorities of the people in Bangladesh still heavily depend on rice, potatoes and spices for carbohydrates. Such traditional practice actually puts pressure on the government to import the extra amount of the food they consume.
Experts highly recommend a balanced diet for daily consumption in order to ensure intake of all food supplement and vitamins, including plenty of roughage and fruits.
Traditionally people are still dependent on rice and potatoes as their staple food. As a result, rice has to be imported even after vast local production.
At the same time, majorities of the people also consume spices almost three times higher than the ideal amount prescribed by dieticians and nutritionists.
Therefore, spices and onions have to be imported in large quantities due to excessive demand, which are harmful to health, experts indicate.
According to Food Ministry's Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) 'Monitoring Report-2019 of the Bangladesh Second Country Investment Plan', the daily per capita food consumption in the country is 409 grams.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says, a person should consume 400 grams of granular food daily as regular diet.
Potatoes are one of the ideal dietary components. A man could consume 100 grams of potatoes daily. Nevertheless, the per capita consumption of potatoes in the country is 65 grams.
Bangladesh is seventh in the world in producing potatoes. According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, during the fiscal year 2017-18, potato production in the country was 97.25 lakh tons, which was about 30 lakh tons more than the demand. The production of potatoes in the country is being wasted due to less consumption.
The recommended amount of spice for consumption per person per day is 20 grammes. Whereas, the average consumption is 75 grams. The spice produced in the country is unable to meet this huge demand.
Dr Shamsul Alam, Member of the General Economics Department (Senior Secretary) said, “With the transformation of the economy, pattern of diet is also changing. Current diet practice of common people has changed with the passage of time.”
“In this case, awareness of nutrient intake is required,” he suggested.
The official also indicated that even though unhealthy, we are consuming more spices than any other region of the world. Therefore, we have to rely on imports.
He further suggested that, if we can develop a nutritious diet, the pressure on importing food would be reduced. This requires awareness as well as government initiatives.
National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute (NHFR), Professor Sohel Reza Chowdhury said, “We are eating less fruits. As a result, our immune system is weakening, as there is a nutritional deficit.”
If vegetable intake is ensured in the daily diet, it will be able to nourish the body in addition to fulfilling the nutritional needs. Foods like pulses, edible oils and protein from animal sources are less consumed than the needed amount, he added.
According to the standard diet, the recommended daily intake of pulses is 50 grams, but the actual consumption is 16 grams.
The per capita consumption of oil is 30 grams whereas; the actual intake is 28 grams.
According to the WHO observation, the presence of variations in food is considered low and nutritious supplemental food insufficiency is considered weak infant and young child feeding (IYCF). Moreover, this is attributed to the baby's major cause of measles.
Nutrition Institute professor at the University of Dhaka, Najma Shaheen said, “Eating too much nutritious foods can cause problems. It is better not to take extra spicy foods.”
Eating is often responsible for the prevalence of diseases such as obesity, heart disease, gastric ulcer and cancer, she specified.
