Nutrition, Diet and Health Tips

For millions, poverty limits options — it’s not about balanced meals or nutrient density, it’s about what’s available. The need to “just eat something” has become a survival strategy. But here’s the problem: what’s available isn’t always safe. Or nourishing. Or even compatible with the human body.

Heavily processed, additive-laden, calorie-dense yet nutrient-poor foods are flooding our markets. These are cheaper, more accessible, and often the only options within reach. But they come at a cost:

• Rising obesity rates (even in children)
• Increased cases of diabetes, hypertension, and other diet-related NCDs
• Malnutrition masked by overfeeding on low-quality food

Food availability does not automatically translate to nutrition.
It’s not just about “chakula iko” — it’s about:

• Is that food safe?
• Is it nutritionally rich?
• Is it biologically compatible with our bodies?
• Is it building our health — or breaking it down slowly?

For example in Kenya today, we’re witnessing a worrying trend:
The rise of diet-related diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension — even in children.

Why?
Because ultra-processed, chemically-laced, nutrient-poor foods are what’s easily accessible and affordable.
In the name of “feeding the nation,” we’ve normalized foods that are:

• Packed with additives, preservatives, and harmful trans fats
• Low in essential vitamins and minerals
• Stripped of their original nutritional value through over-processing

We must stop equating quantity with quality.

Food security policies must go beyond filling stomachs.
They must focus on:

• Food safety: Is it clean? Free from contaminants and toxic residues?
• Nutrient profile: Does it supply what the body actually needs to grow, heal, and thrive?
• Cultural and biological acceptance: Can the average human body metabolize it safely? Are we ignoring the value of organic, local, and indigenous foods?

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We’re not just fighting hunger anymore — we’re fighting malnourishment in disguise.
And this battle starts with nutrition awareness.

That’s why our next conversation at Thee Nutritionists Corner is one you can’t miss!

Webinar Topic: The Rising Burden of Childhood Obesity in Africa: Nutrition Solutions for a Healthier Generation
Date: Thursday, 10th April 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EAT | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM WAT
Guest Speaker: Gift E. Awakessien – Clinical Nutritionist, Food Scientist & Weight Loss Expert

Reserve your slot here: Childhood Obesity Webinar link

Let’s go beyond surviving.
Let’s demand access to food that’s safe, nourishing, and truly supports health — for us and our children.

Sign up now, tag a parent, teacher, policymaker, or health worker.
Let’s protect the next generation.

If we join hands, we can change the Narrative.

Signed with love 💕

Lilian Mumina,

Registered Dietitian,

Mumina Wellness Solutions.