Healthy Beginnings with Healthy Foods

Nutrition Awareness Program 

This is a continuation of our updates regarding how we are trying to make our communities healthier. Thanks to our friends at AllPeopleBeHappy, we have initiated some programming to expand our Aayush program that will benefit the entire community. In this update, we dig deeper into the foods we eat and how it affects us, especially the young children.

It is no secret that young children love to eat processed foods or “junk food” like instant noodles, sugary cakes and candies, instead of  home cooked meals. These foods are very addictive and children want to eat more. Eating such food can  cause serious health problems like obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay early in life.  Sadly, some parents unknowingly support their children’s eating habits by giving money to buy junk food.  Raising awareness on this growing issue has become necessary in our society to protect children’s health and  promote healthy eating habits.

With this purpose, we organized a Nutrition Awareness Program in 5 of our Partner Schools in different communities separately. The program was attended by students, teachers and parents of the schools. Our guest presenter for the program was Susmita Adhikari from SOCHAI in all 5 schools.

(SOCHAI is a youth-led organization, formed in 2017 to improve health, nutrition and socio-economic status of women, children and girls through education.)

Healthy Foods

The Guest Speaker shared with the audience  about healthy foods, their sources, and benefits  in detail. The food we grow in our fields or buy grains like  rice, wheat, corn, millet, barley and buckwheat , potatoes, peas, beans and lentils , oats and sweet potatoes are good sources of carbohydrates that provide energy to our body. 

Our body also needs protein to repair and build body tissues, give energy and fight diseases. We can get protein from meats, fish, eggs, milk and milk products, soybeans, peas, beans and lentils, and nuts. 

We also need fats to get high energy, keep our body warm, and protect our vital organs like heart and liver. We also need Vitamins and minerals for our body that we can obtain from fruits and vegetables.

Unhealthy or Ultra-Processed Foods

Guest Speaker Susmita talked about ultra -processed foods which are made in the factory and sold in packages. Such foods contain too much sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and artificial colors and flavors. Children’s favourite foods like Instant noodles, chips, cookies, chocolates, candies, cold drinks, frozen pizza, burgers, packet soup, readymade sauces,cakes, pastries and donuts etc. 

Serious health problems can arise by eating  such foods. Eating such foods can cause obesity, heart problems, poor digestion, and even cancer risk.

At the program, we heard some parents talking : “ Everything we see in the shops is unhealthy, what to give to our children to eat?” 

Susmita answered the audience  gently why we should not  give processed food to their children

Thulimaya Tamang (Parent) said,  “I really liked the program. I learned a lot today. I now know why junk food is not good for our children. We can make healthy snacks at home using local ingredients!”

Ranjita Tamang (Student):

“I had heard that street food like Panipuri and Chatpate can make you sick, but today I clearly understood why. I will now start avoiding such foods.”

More than 220 people including students, parents and teachers of  Bal Sudhar Basic School, Kalidevi Secondary School, Panchakanya Secondary School, and Champadevi Secondary School attended the program and gained valuable knowledge about nutrition, nutritious food and harmful  processed foods. They learned the importance of eating healthy home cooked meals. 

Photos:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1alXw5Kp7oN4E_d95cjhIB8tEFt3vsa0H