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| Jackfruit or nangka is one of the favourite dessert in the Malaysian fresh fruit consumption |
Why sideline the array of local fruits when they are equally delicious and highly nutritious compared with imported fruits? But such discrimination on local agricultural produce is prevalent and is nothing new.
EAT LOCAL FRUIT CAMPAIGN
One may not be aware that the eat local fruit campaign has been conducted since 1972. The campaign has not only helped to promote local fruits as highly nutritious supplements but also helped farmers to market their fruits with the help of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA). According to FAMA's Director General, Datuk Mohamed Shariff Abdul Aziz, previously the local fruits like durian and jack fruit were banned from hotels, but today they are in the menu of the hotels. "The campaign also helped the local fruits to penetrate hypermarkets. This goes to show the cooperation from various parties in helping the government to promote local fruits," he said. However, there is a bigger underlying problem. Despite the campaign, over the years the consumption of fruits by locals have declined.
ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO EAT FRUITS
As for some parents, it is quite difficult to convince their children to make a habit of eating fruits and often they have to be forced to do it.
According to book writer and the winner of 'Fruitastic' and 'Vegemania'Gourmand Award, Mohana Gill, it is important that the fruit eating habit is inculcated from the very early stage. "But children being children it is important that we confide them that fruits and vegetables are good and healthy, and let them see the fruit and vegetables as something fun and tasty," she explained.
She also pointed out that parents, often without realising reward their children with unhealthy things like sweets and carbonated drinks and `penalize' them with `good' food like fruits and vegetables. Thus its pertinent that the adults take the first step by changing the mindset apart from finding exciting and compelling ways to introduce fruits and vegetable in their children's daily diet. CHANGE YOUR WAY OF LIFE
Studies conducted by FAMA found that the fruit intake among malaysians only accounts for 60 kg per capita compared with 130 kg for the peoplwe in developed nations.
FAMA is working closely with Malaysia Health Promotion Board in encouraging the public to consume more local fruits as part of a healthy lifestyle. He also dismissed the view that local fruits like guava, ciku, pineapples, mangoes, papayas and seasonal fruits like durian, langsat, duku, pulasan, rambutan, jack fruit and others as contributors to health problems. "The local fruits are rich in nutrient and fibre. I'm of the opinion that the misconception that the durian is an `unhealthy' fruit must be corrected. Many are not aware that the king of fruits is rich in potassium," he said adding that there is no problem as long as the fruits are consumed moderately.
AS A WAY OF LIFE
Meanwhile, the chairperson of Malaysian Health Promotion Board Toh Puan Datuk Seri Hajah Dr Aishah Ong concurred with Mohamed Shariff on the misconception. According to her, health problems are not necessarily contributed by the intake of local fruits. One's health can be in jeopardy even if one consumes imported fruits excessively. What is more important is moderate consumption. "What is important is that, when we eat, it should be in moderate amount. Even, Allah have created fruits like this to be seasonal. If they say durian is unhealthy, they should also be aware that durian contains high fiber, vitamin C and vitamin A. If they say durian creates heat in the body, Allah created mangosteen that has cooling effects, that is why mangosteen and durians come in the same season," she added. According to Dr Aishah, fruits like star fruit, papaya, ciku, and banana are highly nutritious compared with imported fruits like apple, pear and lai. As for example, the rastali banana has two times more vitamin C content compared with the green apple. The eksotika papaya has 10 times more vitamin A compared with mandarin oranges. Other than vitamin and mineral, fruits also provide fiber. "We want the community to accept the intake of local fruits as part of their lifestyle. It is fashionable to eat local fruits," she stressed. She also urged the mass media to play a bigger role in promoting local fruits. They can highlight local fruits by using file pictures of local fruits instead of imported fruits like the kiwi fruit and apple.The effort will denote the support for the campaign and illustrate that eating local fruits is good for the health.
ENCOURAGE YOUNGER GENERATION TO EAT LOCAL FRUITS
FAMA also concentrates on the younger generation and is now taking the 'Eat More Local Fruits' to the schools. The first location for the campaign is the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seksyen 11, Shah Alam, Selangor. The move is in line with FAMA's effort to encourage the younger generation to acquire the taste for local fruits including the seasonal fruits. "All this while the parents favoured imported fruits maybe due to prestige or they have a taste for them but the local fruits are no less in their nutritional value, and they are fresh and lack preservatives like found in many of the imported fruits," added Mohamed Shariff.
