National Nutrition Week – A Spotlight on Good Nutrition For A Good Life
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
2 September, 2024
September 1-7 is observed as National Nutrition Week annually, and there is a specific theme that is decided for each year- in an effort to increase awareness on a particular issue of interest. Spearheaded by the Ministry for Women and Child Development (MWCD), along with the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), the theme for the year 2024 is ‘Nutritious Diets for Everyone’. The United Nations, which is a global agency, has a list of ‘sustainable goals’ that have to be met, and proper nutrition for the masses is one such area of focus.
The Significance Of National Nutrition Week In India
The saying ‘health is wealth’ may seem like a cliche, but it is very true. It is especially necessary now, because we have too many options available, and we may not really end up making the right choice for ourselves. Eating the right kind of food takes some planning and effort. This initiative by the Indian Government began way back in 1982, and though the focus has mainly tried to include specific groups which are prone to malnutrition, the idea that a healthy lifestyle is a birthright for anyone is a universally well known concept. This is why the present themes try to include everyone- as many of our populations do have access to food, but they don’t eat the right kinds of food. The very thought process of the word ‘diet’ to mean eating healthy food must be thrown out, and the real meaning needs to be taken into account- eating habits and preferences based on a variety of factors.
Factors To Worry About
Couple that with odd and long working hours, limited movement or an almost sedentary lifestyle, and various nutrient deficiencies, it is no surprise that India is emerging as one of the major diabetic capitals in the world. Lifestyle diseases place a huge burden on the health system of a country, and can cost billions of rupees in resources allocated to take care of affected individuals. Malnutrition is a commonly faced issue by specific swathes of the population with almost no access to resources like a stable income, jobs, education, sanitation etc. On the other end however is the issue of ‘hidden hunger’ or nutritional deficiencies that still strike, even if you seem to be healthy or obese. What does this tell us? That being below 25 BMI is not all, but eating a nutritious and balanced diet is key to supplying all minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fats and proteins needed by our body to thrive- mentally and physically.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, all we can do is eat on time, eat well, drink the requisite 2 litres of water per day or even more as needed, and get some exercise. Going to the gym may not be the preferred pastime for many of us, but that is totally okay. Just get some movement into your day- in the form of a walk, or a swim, a run, some dancing to your favourite music, or aerobics- whatever you’d like actually! The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined this simple fact- that 150 minutes of activity every week is the way to go, to maintain good cardiovascular health, and keep most lifestyle related disorders- like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, stroke or even depression at times. You manage to do most of this and you have pretty good chances of living a long, healthy life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is celebrating National Nutrition Week important?
It is important, because it gives us all a chance to rethink our health goals- eating healthy, nutritious food is not an easy endeavour with all the highly processed and sugary junk food we find freely available these days.
How can I help with this initiative?
By taking part in cooking workshops, helping design nutritious meal plans for children in schools, partnering with schools and educational institutions to come up with ideas to engage students in various physical activities, packing healthy meals from home if needed, not indulging in too much junk food at home, and giving children and adults a chance to establish a healthy relationship with food- in the form of portion size, likes and dislikes, texture differences etc. You could also talk about getting a nutrition drive out at places where people work- as nutritional deficiencies don’t affect the young alone. In fact, nutrition needs to be tailored with respect to age, activity levels and other factors as taken into account.
How useful are cooking workshops now?
Cooking healthy food does not need to be a scary thought- popular chefs can be asked to come up with simple yet fulfilling recipes that are not very rich, and will also give people ideas on how to address issues like food allergies or account for specific preferences. Local ingredients need to be given a push in such initiatives.
What are some nutritional deficiencies the Indian population suffers from?
Vitamin D, protein, iron, iodine Vitamin A- these are some very commonly found issues in India.
How does good nutrition help in prevention of childhood obesity?
Healthy diet and teaching children about food choices they can make instead of making them eat fast food for the sake of convenience or due to peer pressure is a sure fire way to inculcate healthy habits in our children. Start young, and stay strong!
