Can eating well be fun? | Karelle FERNETTE | TEDxPointeaPitre

What does "eating well" mean to you? The pleasure of your taste buds, taking care of your health, eating to satisfaction? Yes, but eating what? Industrial products are becoming more and more accessible and for many people eating healthy is not a priority. On the basis of this observation, Karelle Fernette, dietitian and nutritionist in Guadeloupe in the French West Indies, presents a game that enables us to take action while having fun.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Do you like to eat well?

What's "eating well" to you?

For me, it's what delights my taste buds,

it's taking care of my health,

it's having energy,

and it's also togetherness, if possible.

But it's also a constraint.

It demands time,

and it can also demand a budget.

Let's remember that for centuries,
eating well meant eating enough.

And it still exists unfortunately.

Today, in industrial countries,

shops offer lots of products
that are ready to eat.

And there is also mass catering.

It's practical when you're busy.

By the way, let me take
this opportunity to ask you :

Do you know how much fried food
we're allowed to eat by week?

Let me help you: one, three or five?

Many, especially teenagers,
are surprised to learn

that we shouldn't eat more
than one portion of fried food a week,

not more than one portion
of fried food a week.

Eating well, filling your stomach,
has become easy,

but with what?

So now, myriads of dietary
regimens are offered to us.

We know that dietary
regimens don't work

in the long term.

Dieting means frustration,
so it's impossible on a long term basis.

Dieting can mean unbalanced nutrition,

therefore it can be
dangerous in the long term.

There are also health professionals

who help you change your life habits
and your eating habits.

And ...

... there's ..

... the Internet.

The Internet gives us tons
and tons of information

on the microbiota,
the acid-base balance, gluten,

and lots of others.

Here again, if the diet is unbalanced,

it can be dangerous in the long run,
even if at first you feel better.

Is it because I chose new foods

or because I removed
a lot of industrially-made products?

I, myself, have been
what they name in English

a "healthy".

"Healthy" means

"taking care of your health
everyday through nutrition."

My family, who were worried about me
because maybe I took it a bit too far,

did some research.

In medical terms, it has
a name, "orthorexia,"

the obsession with eating healthy food.

What I liked about this diet
was that I discovered lots of foodstuffs,

loads of nuts, peas,

loads of roots,

sweet potatoes of course,
but also manioc, artichockes ...

drinks such as kefir.

I continue to share them
with those around me.

And I also noticed that offers
in shops changed

probably because of public demand.

Could this be our power
as "consum'actors"

that is doing its work?

Further more, national recommendations
also are starting to evolve.

Do you know "Manger Bouger",
"Five fruits and veggies"?

It's the national nutrition
and health plan.

In the 2017-2021 new guidelines,

they recommend
that we eat a handful of nuts,

walnuts, almonds,
unsalted of course, every day.

They also recommend
that at least twice a week

we eat dry vegetables, peas, apricots.

About that,

do you know that they have
to be soaked in cold water over night,

then get rid of the water
before cooking them?

It's to remove the phytic acid,
an anti-nutrient.

They also recommend to decrease
our consumption of red meat and fish.

And the recommendations for dairy products

have dropped from three-four... to two.

National recommendations are evolving.

The approach to patients is also evolving.

Four years ago,

I trained in patient's
therapeutic education.

This approach changed my life.

In this approach, we start
with the patients, their point of view,

what motivates them.

We are aware of the stages of change.

It's the Prochaska wheel of change.

They may be in "pre-contemplation"
where they don't feel concerned.

They may be in "contemplation,"
in "preparation,"

in "action" where he is doing,

or in "maintenance."

When they're in the maintenance
period continuing an action,

there are two outcomes:

either the patients carry out
this new diet daily and succeed,

or they fail.

Failure is part of this coaching.

For me, it was very difficult.

It was very difficult

to see people who wanted
to change their lifestyle habits

just couldn't do it.

It was also very difficult for me
to realize that some people didn't care.

It was very difficult to realize

that some people found that burdensome

and were destroying their health
by eating carelessly.

What more could I do?

What more could I do?

So, I spoke about it to my friends.

I spoke about it
to the associations I go to.

And I spoke about it to Jarry's FabLab.

Have you heard of FabLab?

For those who don't know,
Fablabs can be found all over the world.

They are places of exchange
where people pool materials,

and above all their skills

and their ideas for projects

on a voluntary basis, of course.

And imagine! A modeler,
a graphic artist from the FabLab

was interested in my idea:

to convey a dietary message

in a simple and entertaining way

so that learning how
to eat well becomes fun.

So we worked on my first project,

a "serious game" as they say.

Let me explain.

You have a card game,
you can take it anywhere,

and you have one mission a day.

The mission is expressed in simple words,

accessible to all and a bit humorous.

So we try to carry out this mission.

Was it natural, pleasant,

difficult or horrible for you?

So with one mission a day,
we are progressing step by step -

one mission a day,

if I wish to.

It doesn't have to be everyday.

The mission, if you choose to accept it -

hmmm, no, not this one, not this one ...

This one!

"Don't snack in between meals."

I love this one.

We just have to try, when bringing
something to our mouth,

to remember to count the number of bites,

and instantly,

our behavior changes,
our attitude changes,

it's like magic!

So, step by step,

we change our habits through play

because finding our diet,

the right eating for us,

when we know how to organize ourselves,

when we enjoy what we eat,

and when we keep conviviality,

we have everything to gain from it.

Health, breathing,

well-being, good spirits,

we have everything to gain from it.

Hmm, is that all?

Maybe not all, maybe not the kilos !

Shouldn't it be our responsability

to choose the best for our health,

for our children, for our island,

for our planet?

So,

what does "eating well" mean to you?

Me, I have made my choice.

(Applause)