The meaning behind the name
What is Tagthiya?
- تغذيةThe Arabic word for nutrition.
- An illustrated storytelling project by public health nutritionist Sarah Zahr, turning nutrition and food policy research into short stories anyone can follow.
Also spelledTaghthiya · Tagthia · Taghthia · Taذغiya (as styled in the logo)
What Tagthiya Does
Nutrition research rarely reaches the people it affects most. It stays in reports and PDFs while the food environment keeps changing around us. Tagthiya started in 2017 as Sarah's response to that gap, and to the misinformation that fills it.
Each story takes a report, policy or study and retells it as a short illustrated story, often borrowing from classic tales like Little Red Riding Hood or Dracula. A sarcastic stick figure in the margins asks what many of us are thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tagthiya a diet or healthy eating site?
No. Tagthiya doesn’t give tips, follow trends or tell you what to eat. It explains why the food environment is the way it is, and who benefits when it stays that way.
Where does the information come from?
Every story is based on published research and policy reports, and the sources are listed under each story.
Who is Sarah Zahr?
A public health nutritionist with a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition from the American University of Beirut. She began a Doctor of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in 2022 and has consulted for UNICEF, Nutrition International and the World Bank.
What topics does Tagthiya cover?
Ultra-processed food, junk food marketing to children, Big Food lobbying and conflicts of interest, food insecurity, infant formula marketing and healthier food environments.