People want change in the food around them
People across the island of Ireland want change in the food that surrounds them. When we brought people together to talk about food, they shared clear ideas on how our food system could better support healthier lives for everyone.
The food environment is the food that surrounds us every day. What is in shops, affordable and advertised, influences what ends up on our plates every day. Right now, unhealthy food is often the most visible and convenient option. This makes it harder for healthier food to be part of everyday life and affects health across communities.
That’s why we spoke with communities across the island of Ireland to hear their views on how the food around them could better support our health.
Together, we explored 6 parts of everyday life where food is most present:
- food shops
- eating out
- food on-the-go
- food delivery
- education, care and workspaces
- food adverts and social media
People spoke with passion and insight about how the current food system works – and where it falls short. They shared ideas to make healthier eating easier, more affordable and more accessible in everyday life. Across all discussions, there was a strong desire for change.
Award-winning illustrator Steve Doogan was at each discussion and captured people’s ideas in real time. He later developed these sketches into a series of 24 illustrations – 4 for each food environment.
Together, the ideas and illustrations show a clear message: people want meaningful change across society to support healthier eating and protect children’s health.
The illustrations form our Appetite for Change exhibition. We hope it will lead to discussions among communities and policymakers about how we can build a healthier food environment for everyone.
Explore our digital version of the Appetite for Change exhibition below. It includes behind the scenes videos and ways for you to have your say.
Click to read An Appetite for Change
