Are our children eating healthy foods? Are they really getting enough age-appropriate nutrients?
Not one hundred percent. Because about one lakh (36 percent) children under the age of five are victims of chronic malnutrition (short stature for age). While 10 percent of children are underweight for their age due to lack of nutrition.
This is what the current data of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey says.
the reason
Malnutrition is usually caused by lack of food. But in Nepal, even though it is something to eat, malnutrition is seen among children due to lack of nutritious food.
Children have become victims of malnutrition despite not being able to give them a balanced diet according to their age.
According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, 70 percent of children aged 6 months to 36 months in Nepal are eating foods that do not develop their physical and mental growth.
In Nepal, babies are given more sugary foods than fruits and vegetables. A survey shows that 43 percent of children from one year to 23 months in Nepal are given sweet drinks and food. Another thing is that in Kathmandu Valley, 48.5 percent of parents have been found to eat customized snacks instead of preparing nutritious food.
This data also shows that there are unhealthy practices on children’s development.
Not only that, now there are many marketable foods with attractive names in the market. When children get used to such foods, they become close to unhealthy junk food and stay away from fiber and vitamin rich foods.
Another thing is that when guests have children, there is also a tradition in Nepal of taking food such as chocolate, noodles, lage in a bag. It is easy to give the same koseli lunch to the parents. In this way, children are also attracted to outside food. Their tongues prefer attractive foods from the market rather than home-made pulses, rice, and vegetables.
Similarly, the problem of malnutrition has also increased due to the fact that most of the mothers feed their children ready-made food (junk food) due to lack of time. Since only mother’s milk should be fed for 6 months, feeding packet foods available in the market to make up for this may cause malnutrition in children between 8 months and 24 months.
Health problems due to malnutrition
Wrong diet replaces healthy food. Which deprives the child of essential nutrients for growth and development.
Such practices affect not only the physical health of children but also their mental abilities. Children who do not get enough healthy food during their growing years. Their intellectual ability is weak. Due to malnutrition, children have less ability to fight disease.
Excessive salt and chemicals in highly processed and junk food, fatty foods, unnecessary weight gain and other non-communicable chronic diseases in the future. Likewise, excessively sweet and artificial sweets, ice cream, sweets can cause problems in the teeth.
In this case, 6 to 23 months of age, the need for nutrition is higher than other ages. If there is a lack of nutrition in this situation, problems such as reduced immunity, reduced cognitive development, less physical activity compared to healthy children, and slower work may appear.
what to do
Adequate breastfeeding should be done up to one year after birth. Similarly, children aged two years and above who are breastfed on demand should be given a balanced amount of food such as home cooked food such as litho, khichdi, jaul, meat, eggs, fruits and green vegetables.
These foods should include sources of vitamins, minerals, calcium, magnesium, and protein needed for the development of the body. Also, you should make a habit of drinking plenty of water. Home food should be fed more than outside food.
Food is given, but how much daily? Children’s bodies have different physical structures. Accordingly, the body demands food. In this case, a nutritionist can be consulted to know how much food to give them daily.
It is not only about giving food, but also focusing on them while eating food. As much as possible, it is advisable not to give marketed food to the growing age.
It seems that the government should also bring a program on nutrition knowledge from rural to urban areas for awareness.
How to feed the baby?
– Five different nutritious foods should be given every day. So that they don’t get fed up by continuously eating any food.
– Children are attracted by different colors. In this case, to make the food attractive, salad, raw fruits and cut vegetables can be served with some decorations.
– Do not use force to feed the child. Love should be reminded and fed.
– Children should be allowed to play inside or outside the house, so that they feel hungry and increase their interest in food.
– Junk food should be given only when they are as old as possible. The more you avoid junk food at a young age, the better.
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