Shaking the salt habit for better health
This week is ‘World Salt Awareness Week’ with its theme ‘Shake the Salt Habit’.
With strong evidence that too much salt is not good and affects a person’s health adversely causing serious illness, WHO Sri Lanka collaborated with the Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association and the Directorate of Non-communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health to give practical tips on how to make a delicious dishes without ‘shaking’ in a lot of salt.
The fruit of these multi-pronged efforts is a handy and colourful recipe book that can be kept in the kitchen for easy reference.
sample from the recipe book which will be launched shortly
It all started with a ‘National Low Salt Cooking Challenge’ last year (2021) which engaged those involved in food technology, culinary science and the public to put on their chef’s hat and ‘innovate’ in making popular Sri Lankan dishes using less salt.
Highlights from the Final round of the ‘National Low Salt Cooking Challenge’
Some of the special events held were ‘Learn from the experts’ sessions with well-known chefs conducting cookery demonstrations using less salt.
Dietary surveys have shown that the average salt intake in Sri Lanka is nearly double the recommended 5 grams per day due to salt being added when cooking our rice and also our ‘sour tooth’ which makes us use traditionally preserved salty foods as ‘rice-pullers’.
Join the public webinars on salt and health
Zoom link: https://who.zoom.us/j/92749402556
Zoom link: https://who.zoom.us/j/92413224023