In Latin American countries there are many problems of malnutrition, but people are not aware of them because they have a misconception of malnutrition. When we think about nutrition the first thing that comes to our mind is a person who is extremely thin, but malnutrition is much more than that.
Having malnutrition is defined as having a lack of proper nutrition. There many types of malnutrition, but some of the ways that often get over looked include being obese or having a diet that does not provide enough vitamins or protein.
According to actual.rt.com, “several UN agencies warn that in Latin America they face a double burden of malnutrition: while 8.3% of Latin Americans suffer from hunger, the rate of obesity increases, reaching 23% of adults”. The UN also states that “while undernutrition undermines physical growth and impairs brain development, overweight and obesity can lead to non-communicable diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.”
They also added that “of the 47 million Latin Americans suffering from malnutrition, 7.1 million are chronically undernourished children under the age of five, while another 3.8 million are overweight.”
Are your kids getting the right type of nutrition?
It is true that there are lots of families that do not have the economic resources to provide a complete and quality diet to their children. Children often skip meals or eat ready-made meals, and we all know that neither is good.
But there are also parents who do not know that they are providing an insufficient diet or poor lifestyle to their children. All children should eat five times a day: they should have breakfast when they get up, have a mid-morning snack (but a healthy snack, not junk food), eat a complete lunch, snack in the afternoon, and have dinner. Within these five meals, fruits, vegetables, and proteins should be included.
There are people who are not used to having so many meals, but it is necessary to change the eating habits if we want to get a good lifestyle. Encourage your family to go grocery shopping and introduce them to new foods, healthy foods that are good for them. Also, remember that food should be combined with physical activity.
Now that summer vacation is over, returning to school or returning to work is the perfect time to begin healthier habits. Eliminate artificial juices, fast food, and junk food from your diet. Spend more time preparing food at home and shop at your local supermarkets where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat a balanced diet and follow it every week, and try to add a little exercise every day.
Above all, when you feed a young child, think of where that food comes from and if you would consume it. If it’s not good enough for you, then it’s not good enough for them. When children are young, they do not have eating habits of any kind, so let’s teach them the good ones and keep them away from the bad ones.