KARACHI:
To ensure the healthy growth and development of children, they should be given a proper diet from a young age as it inculcates healthy eating habits amongst them, which they carry on into their teenage and adulthood. A good diet supports healthy development and protects one against chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. To maintain a healthy diet, consumption of salt, sugars, and saturated and industrially produced trans-fats should be reduced and a variety of foods should be consumed. Essentially, a healthy diet means healthy nutrition.
Besides development, proper nutrition provides children with more energy. Wholegrain bread, starch potatoes, and water are important to sustain energy in one’s body. Balanced nutrition that is rich in protein, low in fat, and reasonable carbohydrates will have a positive impact on one’s moods. Also, eating nutritional diets ensures good mental health and improves lifespan.
According to research, the early years of a child are critical because this is when their brain is developing and so nutrition must be prioritised. Therefore, children must have a healthy diet from a young age, which means that they must be breastfed for the first 6 months as it will foster healthy growth. Other complementary foods should also be introduced within the first two years. This will help include different tastes into their palate and they will be less selective or choosy about food as they grow older, which can help them maintain a balanced diet.
Urooj Sultan
Thatta
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2022.
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