Crafting a Healthier Future for Armenia

2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia — Given the pivotal role nutrition plays in one’s overall well-being, the global emphasis on maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle underscores the significance of the healthy plate concept. Publicized in the form of a visual aid, the healthy plate guides individuals to create wholesome meals in keeping with established dietary recommendations. Various countries, such as the United States with its MyPlate initiative, and universities, like Harvard and Tufts, have proposed their own interpretations of the healthy plate. However, Armenia has yet to put forth its own. 

Recognizing the impact of nutrition on fostering a healthier society, the American University of Armenia (AUA) offers the course Human Nutrition and Health as part of its public health curriculum within the General Education program. The students currently enrolled in this course have developed a graphic visualization of their proposed Armenian healthy plate, which depicts a selection of food items and dishes that are not only nutritious, but also culturally fitting, affordable, and accessible to the Armenian population. One of the course assignments is to authentically present Armenian food customs while integrating international dietary guidelines with the local cultural subtleties.

The students presented their healthy plate proposals to the instructors of this course, Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS) Visiting Professor Dr. Kim Hekimian, who is also Associate Professor of Nutrition at Columbia University and advisor to the Republic of Armenia Minister of Health, and CHS Visiting Lecturer Arev Mazloumian, in the presence of Kristine Galstyan (MPH ’19), the chief specialist at the Public Health Department of Armenia’s Ministry of Health (MoH). Galstyan was pleased to gain valuable insights from the students’ presentations, which could potentially be integrated into the Ministry’s nutrition promotion strategies. On this occasion, the students were briefed on the upcoming nutrition campaigns planned by MoH. They were also invited to volunteer in these government initiatives, taking up the unique opportunity to substantively contribute to the nation’s health-promotion endeavors. 

The students’ efforts to create a culturally appropriate Armenian Healthy Plate resonate across the population of Armenia contributing to the wider goal of promoting healthier dietary practices throughout the country. This session with an MoH representative underscores AUA’s commitment to fostering a more health-conscious and informed society through comprehensive educational initiatives.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.