A public health topic important to me is nutrition and malnutrition. One reason I chose this topic is because every child should be receiving the adequate nutrition no matter their age. Nutrition is important because without it a child can’t grow on function normally. Cooking or buying a healthy meal will ensure the child receives the needed nutrients to survive. This topic is also important to me because I am a manager for school nutrition. I observe children everyday who rarely touch their food. I try to encourage them to eat, especially their vegetables. Vegetables seem to be the last thing touched on their tray. There are children who bring lunch from home, and these meals are not healthy. I see the children with potato chips, cookies, soda, and tasty cakes. The entrée is usually a sandwich, and they sometimes have lunchables. School meals are designed to give the child adequate calories needed for their age group.
In the Philippines, there is a high rate of malnutrition. Some reasons for the malnutrition are poverty, hunger, and food insecurity. The majority of the underweight children are from infant to five years old. Various health and nutrition programs are implementing ways to address malnutrition in the Philippines. Some of these measures are serving hot meals and milk to school children, promoting breastfeeding in the community, hospitals, and workplaces. There is much more being implemented to end malnutrition in the Philippines.
This information I learned about nutrition and malnutrition will assist me when I am an educator in the classroom. I will use what I know, along with what I learned, and pass it along to the parents. I will continue to encourage the children to eat their food and explain to them why it is important to eat all their food.
Great post Brenda!
ReplyDeleteIt is individual like you that will help make a difference by making parents aware of the choices that they are making. If we have knowledge and information we can make changes for the better. I am sorry to hear about the malnutrition that is going on in the Philippines, but it is good that programs are coming together to provide adequate meals for them. Children need support for their minds and body to develop properly. I am glad you are manager for school nutrition because hopefully with the right cooperation you can get all the kids and their families eating healthy. Good luck with your future goals.