True enough, good nutrition plays a crucial part in one’s life, most especially in children. Not only does it help them to grow stronger and healthier, good nutrition also contributes to the improvement of other aspects of their lives, such as mental and social relations. According to UNICEF (n.d.), well-nourished children are better able to grow, learn, play, and participate in their communities. Children who receive adequate nutrition are also said to be more likely to adapt in times of crisis.
Unfortunately, many people fail to recognize the significance of ensuring good nutrition during the early years of a child’s life. In fact, the first 1000 days of a child is regarded as the brain’s window of opportunity. Spanning from the moment of conception to their second birthday, this period is when the foundations of maximum health and development are established. Research suggests that nutrient deficiency in the aforementioned period can affect brain function in the long run (Cusick & Georgieff, 2013).
Despite the critical importance of the first 1000 days of life, many children are still being deprived of getting the proper nutrition they need for their health and longevity. In the Philippines alone, there are children who are continuously suffering from poor diets, inadequate nutrition, and failing food systems (UNICEF, 2019). In 2019, the State of the World’s Children (SOWC) revealed disturbing facts on undernutrition in the country. According to their research, one in three Filipino children under five years old are stunted, while roughly 7% of children are too thin for their height.
It is really saddening to realize how millions of children are not able to grow healthy and reach their full potential, especially those who come from the poorest and most vulnerable areas. As children are highly dependent on others for their basic needs (Bagattini, 2019), it is our responsibility to ensure that these needs, with great emphasis on nutrition, are met. Furthermore, we should also support and strengthen maternal care as the mother’s nutrition during pregnancy is pivotal in the health and development of the growing fetus.
References:
Bagattini, A. (2019). Children’s well-being and vulnerability. Ethics and Social Welfare, 13(3), 211–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2019.1647973
Cusick, S., & Georgieff, M. K. (2013). The first 1,000 days of life: The brain’s window of opportunity. UNICEF-IRC. https://www.unicef-irc.org/article/958-the-first-1000-days-of-life-the-brains-window-of-opportunity.html
UNICEF. (n.d.). Children, food and nutrition. Unicef.Org. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/media/60811/file/SOWC-2019-Exec-summary.pdf
UNICEF. (n.d.). Nutrition. Unicef.Org. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/nutrition
UNICEF. (2019). UNICEF: Many children and adolescents in the Philippines are not growing up healthily. Unicef.Org. https://www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/unicef-many-children-and-adolescents-philippines-are-not-growing-healthily
United Nations Children’s Fund. (2019). The state of the world’s children 2019: Children, food and nutrition - growing well in a changing world. UN.