Have you ever heard stories of people who didn't connect their health with the food they consumed until they faced health struggles? We were once among those individuals who viewed food as mere fuel, unaware of its profound impact on our well-being until our thirties.
This realization led us to believe that nutrition education should be accessible to every child from an early age. Even a basic understanding that food plays a role in our health can be invaluable. While we acknowledge that various factors influence our well-being, any connection forged between health and food is a step in the right direction.
In fact, this perspective is not just our opinion; it offers a solution to the global health challenges our children face. The Global Burden Report of 2019 highlights the impact of unhealthy dietary habits on children and non-communicable diseases (NCDs):
Children are often targeted with foods high in sugars, salts, and fats, setting the stage for lifelong habits. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends measures such as limiting salt and fat content in foods, reducing sugar consumption through taxation, and providing nutrition education and healthy meals in schools.
NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, are strongly influenced by unhealthy diets, according to the WHO.
The report emphasizes that an unhealthy diet, lacking sufficient fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts while consuming energy-dense foods, is a significant risk factor for these diseases.
Despite having access to the best medical care in human history, our lifestyles, including our food choices, contribute to the prevalence of these ailments.
That is precisely why educating our children about healthy nutrition is of utmost importance. It not only helps prevent common modern diseases but also empowers our children to prioritize their own health and well-being.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of awareness among children about the importance of healthy eating. As parents and caregivers, we bear the responsibility of being our children's primary source of nutrition education. This education should not be complex or presented as a rigorous curriculum. Instead, conversations about the significance of nutrition should become a natural part of our daily lives, especially while preparing food with our children. This realization inspired us to create resources that facilitate and encourage such conversations and activities with parents and kids.
By providing children with early nutrition education, we equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed choices about their health. Together, we can foster a generation that values and prioritizes healthy eating, paving the way for a brighter and healthier future.
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