Planning your next trip? The Netherlands might be your best bet if you want to dine healthy. The country ranked as the easiest place in the world to find a balanced, nutritious diet, according to an Oxfam report published yesterday. The report considers whether families have sufficient access to food, especially fresh produce, lack of malnutrition and undernourishment, and access to safe water.
The Netherlands, which ranked high for its lower food prices and low diabetes levels, was followed by France and Switzerland, with Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden close behind. Australia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Portugal rounded out the list for the top 12.
Although the United States was named the most affordable place to eat, it couldn’t quite rank among the many Western European countries in the top 20. The U.S. tied with Japan for 21st place, while Canada took the 25th position out of 125 countries.
The worst countries for healthy eating included Yemen, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Angola, with Chad at the bottom of the list. The report cites obesity, diabetes, malnutrition, and the high cost of food as the primary reasons for their low ranking.
To compile the rankings, Oxfam spent a few months analyzing eight reports from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. and the International Labor Organization, according to NPR.
Oxfam’s Max Lawson says the problem with the diabetes and obesity rates in these countries is linked to poverty. “Food is very, very cheap in the U.S. compared to most countries,” he explains. “But the fact is you end up with people malnourished in one of the richest countries because they don’t have access to fresh vegetables at a cheap enough price to make a balanced diet.”
Lawson suggests that fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains need to be distributed to these countries to start making a difference. Even in countries with famines, there’s still often enough food, he adds.
With that said, Saudi Arabia could have a lot of potential to increase fresh produce consumption if the price is right.
