UNICEF, Odisha Women in Media Conduct Workshop on Nutrition

By: WE Staff | Monday, 23 February 2026

• UNICEF, Odisha Women in Media host workshop on children’s nutrition.
• Media professionals trained to report on healthy, affordable diets.

UNICEF Odisha, in collaboration with Odisha Women in Media, organized a workshop titled "Healthy Plates, Happy Lives" to empower media professionals in reporting on children’s and adolescents’ nutrition.

The workshop demonstrated how food environments which restrict affordable food options, control food advertising and food display systems from which children select their meals actualize more powerful impact on children’s eating habits than their personal eating choices.

Experts at the event discussed the increasing challenges of poor nutrition among children which include undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and rising rates of obesity. The two problems exist because ultra-processed foods have become more common in contemporary market spaces.

Sourav Bhattacharjee, UNICEF Odisha's Nutrition Specialist, explained that children today select their meals based on two factors which include their personal choices and the eating patterns present in their immediate environment.

He said that families should choose healthier foods through three methods which include clear food labels, responsible marketing practices and better food policies.

Bhattacharjee explained that media outlets serve an essential function by educating people about the factors that affect their choices and helping people choose their food selections.

The workshop showed how bad dietary habits create financial burdens and health problems that last for many years. Children need healthy diets to support their development, learning, immune system function and general health because poor nutrition increases their chances of developing non-communicable diseases during adulthood.

Astha Alang, Communication Specialist at UNICEF Odisha, explained that media outlets can influence what people think by using their platform to present evidence-based stories which motivate families to choose healthy diets while safeguarding their children from dangerous food products and honoring indigenous food practices.

Kasturi Ray, President of Odisha Women in Media, emphasized the role of ethical journalism in reporting on nutrition as a social issue.

The workshop provided women journalists with necessary resources to combat misinformation and report responsibly while establishing nutrition as a shared duty throughout society.

The discussions focused on the need for sustained media coverage that goes beyond awareness, which should hold people accountable while protecting children's health through affordable, culturally appropriate diets.

By empowering women media professionals, this initiative aims to create a more informed and responsible approach to children’s nutrition across India