Development of evidence-based healthy eating recommendations as a tool for improving food literacy among the population

Abstract

Food literacy is regarded as an essential prerequisite for making informed food choices and consistently applying healthy eating principles in everyday life. The aim of this article is to substantiate methodological approaches to developing evidence-based nutrition recommendations aimed at improving the food literacy of the population. The study utilizes a comparative analysis of international guidelines, materials describing the situation in Kazakhstan, and publications on food literacy and educational activities. The analysis shows that informing people about recommended intake levels of individual dietary components is insufficient unless they also acquire skills in meal planning, interpreting food labels, selecting foods, and preparing food. A step-by-step framework for developing recommendations is proposed: defining the target audience, selecting an evidence-based framework, adapting the content to the cultural context, translating scientific evidence into practical actions, pilot testing educational materials, and evaluating the results. In Kazakhstan, particular attention should be paid to accessible examples from traditional diets and national food traditions. The proposed approach is conceptual, and its effectiveness requires subsequent empirical evaluation.