As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is to help your children learn healthy eating habits as, during the formative years, healthy habits impact their overall well-being. The nutrition and lifestyle choices we make when we’re young can have major consequences on our health later in life. However, with expert tips and the right nutrition knowledge, motherhood can be a sweet treat, just like what Fauzia is experiencing while raising her kids.
“I worry whether they will grow normally to become healthy adults and now that my daughter’s school has partnered with Nestlé for Healthier Kids, she is getting the necessary nutrition awareness and knowledge,” says Fauzia while sharing her views about the N4HK program in her daughter’s school.
Fauzia’s daughter, Urooj Fatima, a student of Care Foundation, used to complain of fatigue and stress during school hours and she frequently skipped her breakfast before going to school. Nestlé for Healthier Kids program urged Urooj and her peers to switch to healthier habits such as eating breakfast regularly, sleeping an adequate number of hours and participating in physical activities at school.
Many mothers raise the same issue during the nutrition awareness workshops arranged for mothers and kids. Nutrition experts suggest that by making minor changes in the children’s routine, adopting healthy lifestyle habits and right nutrition choices, they can feel a major change in their children as multiple studies have also shown that better nutrition is associated with improvements in children’s school performance.
“Regular breakfast not only keeps me energetic and fresh through the day but also keeps me motivated and increases my concentration through the lectures”, says Urooj, speaking from her experience.
Furthermore, the specially developed program books enabled her to learn interesting nutrition facts and cooking workshops and contests nurtured her interest in the kitchen as she has become conscious about her family’s wellbeing.
“Through our 10 years of continuous partnership with Nestlé for Healthier Kids Program, we have achieved significant improvement in the nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice of a healthy lifestyle amongst children at our school through interesting and interactive learning activities” says Seema Aziz, Managing Trustee of the Care Foundation.
Empowering Teachers Through Nutrition Trainings
Nestlé for Healthier Kids empowers school teachers with educational tools and behaviour change solutions through teachers’ trainings. These educational tools are anchored in strong nutritional and behavioural science and aim to encourage the adoption of healthier habits.
The Nestlé for Healthier Kids encourages teachers to try new things and interactive learning approaches provide students with some great hands-on opportunities to learn about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity.
“Early years are fundamental in shaping lives of children and this is the time when it is easier to influence children and inculcate healthy habits and increase their awareness, knowledge and understanding of healthy eating and physical activity,” says Arisha Ansari, one of the teachers from a partner school.
“The teacher trainings on nutrition and lessons delivered to children during the program are beyond the limits of the classroom as they also influence the peers and families and contribute to building a better and healthier society,” she added.
Inspiring Children to Live Healthier Lives
The adoption of a healthy lifestyle and making right food choices from a young age facilitates optimal physical and mental growth. The program establishes foundations for healthier eating by inspiring kids to eat well in a way that is engaging and interactive through various fun learning activities. Activities like cooking workshops and healthy lunch box contests reinforce nutrition knowledge and practice of a healthy lifestyle amongst children.
“Getting kids engaged in cooking and understanding nutrition basics at a young age is a critical step in establishing a foundation for healthy eating and lifelong healthy living habits,” says Mrs. Hira Mushtaq, a mother volunteering at a cooking workshop arranged for children.
Commenting on the recently hosted event, The Healthy Lunch Box Competition on Children’s Day, Ms. Uzma Adnan, Principal at The Trust School, said, “A healthy lunch keeps kids active, alert and focused as the right nutrition at the right time is essential for children’s health and development. Children learn about nutrition, food and health as they work on preparing their own healthy-packed lunches with the help of their mothers. The objective of such activities is to raise nutrition awareness of kids and of mothers to foster healthier eating, drinking and lifestyle habits among their children.”
Multi Stakeholder Approach
Malnutrition is a complex issue driven by multiple social, economic and environmental factors. To tackle it effectively, we need a multi-stakeholder approach in supporting the health of our children now and in the future. Taking the right approach will eventually yield optimal results, therefore it is imperative that the government, the public and all other stakeholders become aware of the nutrition challenges the country faces, and act on it in their own ways to tackle it. The moment there is a realization and the urge to act, it will cumulatively lead to a bigger impact.
Pakistan has been reported to have one of the highest levels of prevalence of child malnutrition compared to other developing countries. According to the National Nutrition Survey 2018, Pakistan is in the midst of a nutrition crisis with stunted growth being a major indicator. A focus on quality of diet and nutrition awareness is extremely essential to prevent stunting, wasting and other forms of malnutrition.
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