How to render nutrition healthy and eco-friendly: an online course on sustainable nourishment by NGO “Ekoltava”

“Ekoltava”, in cooperation with well-known Ukrainian biologist, health advocate, author of the book “On health, optimistically”, Darka Ozerna, works on training videos for those who would like to stick to a healthy diet.

«Actually we’ve been thinking about something useful to bring to Ukrainians, – says project manager, NGO “Ekoltava”, project coordinator in Austausch e.V. “Promotion of climate education in Eastern Europe”, implemented by NGO “Ekoltava” within Ukraine, Maryna Sadkina, – and we’ve eventually come to think that “sustainable nourishment” is a rather dim issue. We would like to speak on it more profoundly, especially in the time of full-scale war in Ukraine. As now healthy feeding at an unfabulous price and resistance against severe conditions go hand in hand – though at first sight it may not seem obvious».

Steady, or sustainable, nourishment is generally a peculiar mode, when one eats without harm to health, environment, and biodiversity. It is primarily uncomplicated and not very much spendy.

«Simple foodstuff, simply and instantly cooked, is neither environmentally hazardous, nor health-threatening, – explains biologist and health advocate, Darka Ozerna. – Take potatoes, for instance, we only bake it – and thus, healthy food is produced. Its nutrients are all still there. Whereas deep-fried potatoes are cooked in an oil mix, with palm oil being one of the components. To produce palm oil, forests are being taken down somewhere in Indonesia (with probable impact on climate); the oil is then heated and burnt. Discarded leftovers are drained into sewage».

The course tells how to refuse from excess foodstuff, buy and cook the quantity that can be eaten at once (without throwing anything away), and consume local and seasonal items. 

The online course consists of 10 training modules and additional materials. The participants get the so called “home assignment”, a sequence of actions that involves the use of theoretical knowledge obtained from the course. Training videos are available for selected and registered participants by the link to specialized webpage and on pages in social networks of Ekoltava.

The online course is developed within the project Austausch e.V. “Promotion of climate education in Eastern Europe”, implemented by NGO “Ekoltava” within Ukraine, under support of German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.