Child Development & Malnutrition

I this weeks Blog I wanted to talk about the importance of child development. We all know kids can be picky eaters but it really is detrimental to their healthy if they are not consuming adequates amount of protein, calcium, carbohydrates (which feeds the brain), and vitamins & minerals. Not getting enough Vitamin A (beta-carotene) will cause bad eye site in the developing child. A calcium deficiency will alter his bone growth. Here in the U.S over eating is widely known. However, children are more likely to be malnourished for various reasons such as low income or just a picky eater. It is the parents job to find a food that their child will eat that has been fortified with vitamins and minerals. They have chocolate shakes with high protein, calcium and vitamins...and they love it cause its chocolate! Be more aware of what you are feeding your children. Dont just give them what they want. In more underdeveloped countries, malnutrition is much more serious. Here are a few quotes and statistics I thought were interesting.

Department of Nutrition for Health and Development said:
"We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the foundation of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made and his senses are being developed.
To him we cannot answer "Tomorrow". His name is "Today".

"The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world is well-fed, one-third is under-fed one-third is starving- Since you've entered this site at least 200 people have died of starvation. Over 4 million will die this year."

"The infant mortality rate is closely linked to inadequate nutrition among pregnant women. The U.S. ranks 23rd among industrial nations in infant mortality. African-American infants die at nearly twice the rate of white infants."