🍛 FairMeal Tray

A Meal Equity System for Families

The Problem We Are Addressing:

Women, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding, have higher nutritional needs. Yet in third world countries, they often don’t get enough access to food or nutrients compared to the male population. This is because of cultural norms which prioritize feeding men or boys first.

In many low-and-middle income countries, women -- especially when pregnant or breastfeeding -- consistently eat last, least, and worst. Cultural norms deeply rooted in patriarchy often prioritize feeding men and boys first, based on outdated beliefs that the men's labor is more valuable or that women should sacrifice their food for others.

Without urgent action to shift cultural norms and ensure fair access to food, millions of women and children will continue to suffer and die from preventable malnutrition.

Key Statistics and Findings

In a case study in 2023 at Nepali, girls aged 12-19 were found to be "often expected to sacrifice food for their families while boys were given preferential treatment as better economic investments", according to the PubMed Central (PMC) of the National Library of Medicine (NIH):

This supports that the problem we are addressing is credible and very real in our world. This shows that the problem of gender equality in the equal distribution of foods to each household member is very serious and prevalent, especially in 3rd world countries.

From a Global Perspective:

Women and girls constitute about 60% of the world's chronically hungry population. In 2021, 31.9% of women globally experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, compared to 27.6% of men.
Around 3 million pregnant women each year suffer from malnutrition, leading to preterm births and low birth weight babies.
If women had the same access to agricultural resources as men, global hunger could be reduced by 12%-17%

Why is this Significant?

This is significant because when women are left hungry, entire generations suffer. A mother’s nutrition determines her child’s survival, strength, and future — and yet millions of women are still forced to eat last and least.

Mothers need folic acid (vitamin B9) from leafy greens, beans, and supplements in order to prevent serious birth defects in the baby's brain and spine (neural tube defects).
Iron supports increased blood volume and helps prevent maternal anemia (where the body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells, or the blood cells don't function properly, leading to reduced ability to deliver oxygen to the body's tissues).
Calcium helps build the baby's bones and teeth.
Protein is essential for baby growth - especially the brain, muscles, and organs.
Iodine is critical for the baby's brain development and thyroid health.
Zinc supports healthy cell growth and immune function in both the mother and baby.
Vitamin A supports healthy cell growth and immune function for mother and baby.
Omega-3 fatty acids is important for the baby's brain and eye development.

If we fail to act, we are choosing to let women and children continue to suffer for traditions that no longer serve us.

Sources:

Navoda Liyana Pathirana, et al. “Addressing Systemic Exclusion and Gender Norms to Improve Nutritional Outcomes for Adolescent Girls in South Asia.” BMJ, 3 Mar. 2025, pp. e080360–e080360, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2024-080360. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

“Food and Nutrition Bulletin Volume 10, Number 3, September 1988.” Unu.edu, 2025, archive.unu.edu/unupress/food/8F103e/8F103E02.htm? Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

‌“5.2 Background on Nutrition and Gender - NIPN - National Information Platforms for Nutrition.” NIPN - National Information Platforms for Nutrition, 15 Apr. 2024, www.nipn-nutrition-platforms.org/nipn- guidance-notes/5-2-background-on-nutrition-and-gender/.

“Empower HER to Address Food and Nutrition Security in Africa.” Blogs.worldbank.org, blogs.worldbank.org/voices/empower-her-address-food-and-nutrition-security-africa.

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