Malnutrition is the topic that I chose to research. Malnutrition is when a person does not consume enough food or enough of the right foods in order for the body to receive an adequate of amount of nutrients. Some of the causes of malnutrition consist of poverty and uneducated parents and some of the symptoms are respiratory problems, depression, immune problems, fatigue, irritability, and many more.
As an educator, nutrition and malnutrition is very important to me because I know that in order for students to develop properly and be successful in class, they need to have a balance diet and some of them are not receiving a well balanced diet. Additionally, many of these children do not consume fruit or vegetables unless they are at school. They are consuming too many sweets and processed foods. They are also drinking too many soft drinks and not enough water. As a result, students are not getting the nutrients that they need to grow and develop adequately. Furthermore, school-aged children are unable to think quickly or critically, pay attention, or concentrate in class.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 4 million children die annually and over half of the deaths are due to malnutrition. Malnutrition is not only a major issue for Africa , but for many third world countries and it does not have to be. Some of the causes of malnutrition come from poverty and a lack of some of the basic necessities. Malnutrition can be resolved if countries, families, and communities would work together.
All of the information that I learned was very informative. This information will be valuable to me when I open my own childcare facility. I will be more conscious of the types of foods that I will offer the children that are in my care. Lastly, I plan to educate my children's parents on benefits of a good nutriental diet in addition to the negative effects of a poor diet.
I found your post this week very informative. I agree with you that children need good nutrition in order to develop properly. I know that I am feeding my own child well balanced and nutritious meals. However, it can be hard at times. It is as you say, poverty and not enough education can be a problem and a great cause of malnutrition. I find myself often amazed about costs when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetable. If it is cheeper for people to go and get a meal at KFC or McDonalds than it is to get fresh fruits and vegetables, I think we have a problem. Whenever I talk with parents, I give them infromation about USDA food guidlines to educate them on how to prepare good meals. I am glad however to see that most quality care programs do serve well-balanced meals. It is a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteNutrition is so important. Kids need to have a good healthy breakfast to get a jump start in the morning. But as you have read, many children all over the world do not have this opportunity. I did research on the lack of access to clean water in Africa which impacts mal-nutrition as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that deaths of children in third world countries due to malnutrition should not be an issue. It is sad to say it is. Poverty has a lot to do with this and we have to do something about it. I think this is one of the goals for head start programs. Due to the fact that they provide three nutritious meals for children enrolled. Even if they are not getting the adequate nutrients at home they have the opportunity to get it at school.
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