Have it ever
come into your mind why we give so much importance to food and nutrition?
The answer is
simple: food gives the energy to work plus grow. Also without food nobody can
survive. Nutrition is equally important as food. Our body requires micronutrients
like vitamins, minerals in small quantities and macronutrients like carbohydrates,
protein and fat in large quantities. These nutrients help the body in different
ways and a deficiency of any of them can affect proper functioning of the body
and can even lead to death.
That is why
doctors always recommend a healthy, balanced diet for both adults and children.
When we talk
about the importance of nutrition and balanced diet, another question pops up-what
is a healthy food? Any food item which can help stay healthy including fruits,
vegetables, grains, legumes, dairy products, nuts, seafood, meat and egg is
considered as healthy. On the other
hand, a balanced diet involves consuming only the right amount of food required
for a healthy body weight and taking different types of foods in the right
proportion. A balanced diet, thus will be high in fruits and vegetables; starch
(potatoes, rice, bread, pasta); protein (meat, fish, lentils), dairy products (milk)
and will be low in salt, sugar and fat.
Balanced diet
has been known to protect against many chronic diseases like stroke, heart
disease and diabetes in adults. Similarly, food and nutrition has a critical
role in a child’s life. A balanced diet helps brain development, improves concentration,
boosts self-confidence, keeps bones strong, fights obesity, improves immunity
and keeps diseases away.
However,
unfortunately, everyone in the world does not have the opportunity to eat
healthy. About 870 million people around the globe fight hunger every day and
are at higher risk of malnutrition, stunting, wasting and death.
Deficiencies of
vitamin A, iron and zinc have found their places among the top ten leading
causes of death in developing countries.
It is concerning to know that nearly two billion people are affected
with micronutrient deficiency, mainly deficiency of vitamins and minerals.
Iron deficiency is
known to cause brain damage in children and pose heart risk in adults. Similarly,
a deficiency in vitamin A in children can lead to blindness and increase the
risk of dying from measles, malaria or diarrhoea. An iodine deficiency during
pregnancy can lead to poor mental health in babies, stillbirth, abortion, and
mental retardation in adults. Also a
zinc deficiency in children can affect proper growth, immunity and cause death.
All these years,
some international organisations like UN, WFP, UNICEF have been trying to end
this problem. In India, we, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, have been
fighting hunger and malnutrition since 2000 by delivering nutritious mid-day
meals to government school children. Our mid-day meals contain all the
nutrients required for children’s healthy growth.
Over 1.4 million children have benefitted out of
our Mid-Day
Meal Programme. However, millions of children still require our help. So create
awareness about the importance of nutrition with us and help us provide food
and nutrition to more children across India.
To know about the Significance of Good Nutrition for Education, visit: Nutrition for Education
