Photo essay

'Know Your Food' Convenience Store debuts in Chengdu

The store simulates the food environment that children are exposed to every day

UNICEF
19 May 2022
UNICEF unveiled the ‘Know Your Food’ Convenience Store on 17 May 2022.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding UNICEF unveiled the ‘Know Your Food’ Convenience Store on 17 May 2022. The store is the centerpiece of UNICEF’s ‘Know Your Food’ campaign, launched to empower children and young people to make informed, healthy choices about their diet through improved nutrition literacy.
Children and government representatives from Chengdu cut the ribbon for UNICEF’s ‘Know Your Food’ Convenience Store at the Chengdu Children and Youth Activity Centre, Sichuan Province, on 17 May 2022.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding Children and government representatives from Chengdu cut the ribbon for UNICEF’s ‘Know Your Food’ Convenience Store at the Chengdu Children and Youth Activity Centre, Sichuan Province, on 17 May 2022.
Children receive a wristband each before entering the convenience store.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding Children receive a wristband each before entering the convenience store. They are tasked with collecting stamps by learning the nutritional information of the different kinds of food items on display.
The mock convenience store is filled with the most popular pre-packaged foods among children, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, ice-creams, potato chips and puff foods.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding The mock convenience store is filled with the most popular pre-packaged foods among children, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, ice-creams, potato chips and puff foods. However, the store does not sell snacks or drinks; instead, it offers customers information on the amount of fat, sugar and salt in the items, as well as how much energy they provide.
There is also a section for healthy food choices in the convenience store.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding Unlike a regular store, the ‘Know Your Food’ Convenience Store comes with a twist to highlight the content of sugar, fat and salt in popular pre-packaged foods, which contributes to an unhealthy food environment for children. There is also a section for healthy food choices in the convenience store.
Children pay attention to the nutritional facts of each ultra-processed food to explore the convenience store.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding Children pay attention to the nutritional information of ultra-processed food as they explore the convenience store.
UNICEF’s ‘Know Your Food’ campaign aims to empower children and young people to make informed, healthy choices about their diet through improved nutrition literacy.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding Over 15 million children in China are obese . The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 6 to 17 years old, which reached 19 percent in 2020, continues to increase year by year. UNICEF’s ‘Know Your Food’ campaign aims to empower children and young people to make informed, healthy choices about their diet through improved nutrition literacy.
At the self-checkout counter, a girl scans an ice-cream to view the amount of sugar, fat and energy it contains.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding
A girl gets a ‘receipt’ which lists out the nutritional information.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding At the self-checkout counter, a girl scans an ice-cream to view the amount of sugar, fat and energy it contains. She also gets a ‘receipt’ which lists out the nutritional information.
During the exhibition, children participate in various games to gain nutrition literacy through fun and play.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding
During the exhibition, children participate in various games to gain nutrition literacy through fun and play.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding During the exhibition, children participate in various games to gain nutrition literacy through fun and play.
At the end of the tour, children wave to the camera with special takeaways from the store, puzzles in the shape of a pack of potato chips, and more importantly, knowledge to make healthier food choices in their lives.
UNICEF/China/2022/Ma Ding At the end of the tour, children wave to the camera with special takeaways from the store, puzzles in the shape of a pack of potato chips, and more importantly, knowledge to make healthier food choices. Join us today to #KnowYourFood.
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