What do obesity and malnutrition have in common?
When we consider malnutrition in the U.S., we think about soft drinks, fast foods, and obesity. Alternatively, when we reflect on malnutrition in Rwanda, we think about carbohydrates, dehydration, and kwashiorkor (swelling of the body resulting from lack of protein). While symptoms of malnutrition in these two countries look different on the surface, the root causes are similar. Poverty. Globally, the most economically and educationally marginalized populations are disproportionately affected by poor nutrition.
The complexity of individual and community level nutrition requires long conversations and dedicated individuals to help understand and develop sustainable solutions. Through the help and encouragement of Consulting Dietician, Elizabeth (Liz) North Boucher, The Women’s Bakery team aims to integrate improved nutrition into their recipes and educational curriculum. Liz works as a Clinical and Consulting Dietician in New Hampshire and is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Health.
*Photo of Liz and her husband, Travis, supporting The Women's Bakery during a holiday 5K run.
Around the world, clinical treatments to malnutrition are often a “band-aid solution” to larger, systematic problems. The Women’s Bakery aims to dig deeper, to tackle one of the root causes of malnutrition, poverty, by providing education and economic opportunity for women. In doing so, the team believes that with the right opportunity, women can ensure that every day they can provide the right food combinations for their families.
