It said that the intake of nutrients that were most inadequate in the Bangalore study was Vitamin A, folate, Vitamin B12 and iron, leaving children susceptible to stunting, weakened immune systems, impaired cognitive function, anaemia, low energy levels and other devastating effects of hidden hunger.
‘Considering how important better nourished children are to maximising India's developmental potential, working with parents for better childhood nutrition is increasingly becoming an imperative and not just an option.’
The study suggested that what constitutes a balanced diet for a mother is the home-cooked healthy food she puts on her child's plate, but the lesser known fact is that a balanced diet is the amount of intake of crucial vitamins and minerals which are needed for healthy growth of a child.
Micronutrient deficiency, also known as hidden hunger, is the key underlining issue and can be explained as inadequate intake of crucial vitamins and minerals such as zinc, Vitamin A and folate, which are needed for healthy mental and physical growth of children.
Parents can also look out for fortified foods and drinks, which have been consistently ranked as the top investments to make in a child's development.
Considering how important better nourished children are to maximising India's developmental potential, working with parents for better childhood nutrition is increasingly becoming an imperative and not just an option.
Empowering ordinary mothers and fathers to lead the charge to spread awareness and act can only hasten efforts to make hidden hunger a thing of the past.
Source: IANS
