Healthy Food Basket: Sustainable and Culturally Adaptive Nutrition for Moldova

Rodica Siminiuc (), Dinu Țurcanu and Sergiu Siminiuc
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Rodica Siminiuc: Faculty of Food Technology, Technical University of Moldova, 168, Stefan cel Mare Blvd, MD-2004 Chisinau, Moldova
Dinu Țurcanu: Faculty of Food Technology, Technical University of Moldova, 168, Stefan cel Mare Blvd, MD-2004 Chisinau, Moldova
Sergiu Siminiuc: Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics, Technical University of Moldova, MD-2004 Chisinau, Moldova

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-22

Abstract: In a global context marked by food insecurity and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, this study proposes a healthy food basket (HFB) model tailored to the demographic, cultural, and economic specificities of the Republic of Moldova which is aligned with international standards. The research employed a comprehensive methodology, including estimations of daily energy requirements using revised Harris–Benedict equations, food selection based on nutritional value, economic availability, and cultural relevance, and nutritional validation through the mean adequacy ratio (MAR), which was derived from nutrient adequacy ratios (NARs) and dietary reference values (DRVs) established by the EFSA. Nutrient intake calculations were based on food composition data and not population-level dietary surveys. Fat-soluble vitamins were excluded due to insufficient available data. The results indicate adequate intake levels of vitamins (B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , and C) and minerals (iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium) while highlighting deficiencies in calcium and sodium that require dietary adjustments. The inclusion of traditional foods, such as kefir and salted or raw pork fat, underscores the model’s cultural acceptability and economic relevance, strengthening the integration of global nutritional principles with regional dietary habits. This study’s limitations, including the use of secondary data and the lack of empirical validation, highlight the need for longitudinal studies. The HFB model offers a replicable solution for other regions facing similar challenges, contributing to global efforts to reduce malnutrition and promote sustainable diets.

Keywords: mean adequacy ratio (MAR); sustainable nutrition; essential micronutrients; cultural adaptability; public health; food security (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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