Balanced Meals: Secret for child growth and development
The nourishment we require as a human being in order to sustain our cells' life and feed them is known as nutrition. It fosters human growth and development, which is the expansion of all human beings' physical and psychological dimensions. Proper nutrition promotes healthy living and barricades infectious diseases, whereas poor nutrition exposes one to communicable diseases, health conditions, stunted growth and development, and some psychological difficulties.
Evidently, a proper nutrition is particularly important in
children since it can affect their mental growth, which otherwise can damage their
overall well-being. Just as every individual requires appropriate nutrition for
general body growth, some people require it more than others due to their
physical and psychological vulnerability. These people include pregnant women,
lactating and nursing mothers, toddlers and growing children. Essential
nutrition is needed at this critical time to facilitate standard progression of
all-round development.
When children are not fed an adequate diet in both quantity
and quality, they may suffer from illnesses that impact their growth, or in
worst case scenarios, lead to mortality. In many countries, children suffer
from malnutrition owing to poverty, which is one of the leading reasons for
infant and child mortality.
Concept of Nutrition
Nutrition is concerned with the types of food we consume and
their amount and quality. When the amount consumed is not proportionate, it
results in inadequate nutrition, which is harmful to one's health.
Evidently, each food type has its own nutritional value,
which performs a particular function in the body metabolism as well as the development,
dependent on the amount of them combined correctly.
Classes of Food
Proper nutrition boosts the body's immunity to certain
illnesses. When treated to a balanced diet, it aids in maintaining a healthy
lifestyle. A balanced diet is one that includes foods from all dietary groups
in appropriate proportions.
Importance of Child
Development
The age of early childhood development is recognised as the
most essential phase of life. This is critical because children require
complete support from their family in order to realise their full potential.
The child's brain builds complex neural networks at an unparalleled rate during
the first three years following birth, resulting in fast mental growth and
development. The brain has grown to 90% of adult size by the age of six.
Early childhood development has a direct impact on a child's
long-term health outcomes, as well as future possibilities, school attainment,
and even earning potential.
How to Support
Healthy Child Development
Without a question, school plays an important role in the
socio-economic development of society. It is a place where children of
different backgrounds come together to form a culture of unity and fraternity.
Their school education prepares them to achieve their goals and be successful
in life.
However, the children in government schools, come from
low-income families. Some students are forced to earn over pursuing their
education due to financial concerns. This is where the true significance of a
midday meal becomes apparent. The mid-day meal, under the Government’s PM
Poshan Abhiyaan, is designed to entice parents to send their children to
school. They can ensure that their children receive at least one healthy meal
every day.
Akshaya Patra’s Role
in Child Development
Akshaya Patra has always strived to ensure that children
have sustained access to food and nutrition through initiatives such as the PMPoshan Abhiyaan (previously known as MDM Scheme) and Anganwadi feeding
programme.
The
Foundation has always endeavoured to uphold children’s Right to Food and Right
to Education by serving them freshly cooked, nutritious and hygienic mid-day
meals every school day. Over 2 million children benefit from the school lunch
every day. If hunger is a barrier to education and consequently, a better life,
the mid-day meal represents hope.
Over the years,
the assurance of a meal has prompted many people to send their children to
school to get an education instead of sending them to work to support the
family. The mid-day meal has played a crucial role in bringing millions of
children to the classroom, thus giving them a chance to break the vicious cycle
of poverty. It has helped promote socialisation and gender equality.
The assurance of a meal
doesn’t just bring children to school but also contributes to their health and
wellbeing by taking care of their nutritional requirements. In the NGO’s
capacity as the implementing partner of the MDM Programme, it has always
strived to provide children a diversified and nutrient-rich staple to enhance
their nutritional and health status.
Over the years, the transformation
the mid-day meal or MDM programme has brought about in the lives of many
children, their families and the community as a whole has been a testimony of
the programme’s benefits.
Now you can also feed the needy
and help further these initiatives and provide employment nutritious meals by
contributing online to Akshaya Patra’s cause.
When you contribute to Akshaya
Patra, you also become eligible to gain tax exemption under Section 80G of the
Income Tax Act as the Foundation is registered under Section 12A of the Act.
