Malnutrition is one of the biggest concerns in world health today. It has become a widespread problem among children because they do not receive the proper nutrition that their body requires for their age. Malnutrition is also one of the leading causes of death among children from ages five years old and above.
Our Child and Adult Care Food Program in Texas, Advance Childcare, Inc., aims to give children the right food that is essential for their growth and function. Moreover, having the right nutrition can also strengthen their immune system and improve cognitive performance of the child.
The truth about malnutrition is often undermined, but in reality, proper nutrition and a healthy population of the youth is essential in today’s society.
Who is malnourished?
A child is malnourished when their weight is not compensable to their height or vice versa. It is also considered underweight when their body mass index is lower than 18. And if one is considered as underweight, they can also be considered as malnourished.
The cause of malnourishment is not just due to hunger or lack of having proper meals for children. An impoverished family cannot provide a full meal for their children, resulting to being undernourished. In the US alone, majority of the kids have inadequate nutrition because the family cannot provide the necessary food for their growth.
When we talk about healthy meals, this includes the food that children eat during the day like snacks and other knickknacks. The common snacks among kids are usually burgers, fries, and other fast food specialties that they simply love.
Moreover, malnutrition could also mean more than just the lack of food, but it also has something to do with vitamins and minerals deficiency. When the child does not have enough vitamins that are perhaps found in their food or in supplements, then it could impede their growth.
What are its effects to the child?
A child can be malnourished even before they are born. In these cases, the child usually suffers brain damage. It can result to poor cognitive performances, low IQ, or worse, mental retardation.
In addition, when the child continuously eats unhealthy foods, their body would gradually weaken and they could develop poor immunity against sickness and other diseases. If it cannot be properly treated, it could eventually lead to death.
At Advance Childcare, Inc., a trusted CACFP Sponsor, we tackle sensitive issues like this because we value our children’s health. We promote food programs that will encourage children and parents to develop the habit of healthy eating.
For more information about child health and healthy food programs, you can look up Advance Childcare, Inc. and our CACFP Software at www.advcc.org, or call us at 903-872-5231.
