All You Need to Know About the National Nutrition Week

Importance of Feeding Smart, Right from the Start

The first two years of a child determines how healthy they turn out to grow. As per UNICEF’s data in India, nearly 50% of all deaths in children under 5 are caused due to under nutrition.

The key feature of feeding smart is to confer optimal nutrition to the new-born in the first two years of life - early and exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding for two years or more, along with nutritionally adequate, hygienic, and age-appropriate complementary feeding starting from 6 months are crucial to prevent stunting in infants and early childhood and halt the cycle of under-nutrition.

Need for Complementary Feeding

While breastfeeding is important for newborns, the nutrient and energy demands begin to exceed as they grow and hence complementary foods are important to meet these requirements.

Principles for Appropriate Complementary Feeding Include

• Continue frequent, on-need breastfeeding until 2 years of age or beyond.

• Feed infants slowly and patiently, motivates them to eat but do not force them and always engage with the child and maintain eye contact.

• Follow good hygiene and proper food handling methods.

• Start with small amounts of food initially and increase gradually as the child gets older.

• Slowly modify food consistency and add variety

• Increase the feed as per age of the infants: 2-3 meals per day for infants 6-8 months of age and 3-4 meals per day for infants 9-23 months of age, with 1-2 additional snacks as needed.

• Choose fortified complementary foods o supplements as needed and during any illness, increase fluid intake including continued breastfeeding and other soft easily digestible foods.

Healthy Eating Tips for Kids

Healthy eating habit is pivotal for a child’s growth and development and hence it is important to provide the child with adequate information about good eating practices. Follow some of these measures:

● Try to keep a bowl of fresh fruit with easy reach on the kitchen table and offer fruit as a snack or if the child is still hungry after meals.

● Ensure to stock your pantry and fridge with an array of wholesome and nutritious options, instead of storing junk foods.

● Incorporate fruit and vegetables of varied colours, textures, and tastes.

● Make your kid involved in planning and preparing meals

● Make sure to have healthy meals as a family as often as possible.

● Switch the TV off while eating, as this would help the child to focus on food available and make healthy eating choices.

Conclusion

A healthy diet plays an essential role in the upliftment of physical and mental well-being of an individual. The right to good nutrition is one of the key factors that determine the overall well-being of a person and to make people aware about significance of nutrition, National Nutrition Week (NNW) is celebrated every year from September 1-7.

Source: Netmeds

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kindly contact your Doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Published on September 06, 2022