Nutrition Takes A Back Seat In Children And Middle-Agers

Urban India is today home to both malnourished and over-nourished children. This is because of the consumption of only one type of food.

Chief Dietician M Radhika of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences remarked, “We find that a lot of children these days have only one type of cereal; there is very little focus on having a balanced diet. Calorie-dense foods are served in school canteens, resulting in obese school-going children. Green leafy vegetables and fruits are outright ignored by many of today’s youngsters.”

For this reason, the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) is taking up field work—they’ll target schools and colleges to help students understand the concept of healthy eating.

Deputy Director Dr Raghunath Rao at NIN explained, “Healthy eating means consuming foods that provide the necessary nutrition, including fiber, proteins, vitamins and minerals. All that chicken can give is protein. For other bodily requirements, whole grains, cereals, leafy vegetables and fruits need to be consumed.”

Nutrition Challenges In Modern India

- Improper meal timings.

- A large number of people skip breakfast because of their hurried lifestyle.

- Low intake of dietary fiber, resulting in constipation, early onset of diabetes, obesity and knee and joint pains.

- Preference is given to taste and not to the nutrition aspect.

- Lack of awareness in adults about the right type of nutrition foods.

- Overconsumption of junk foods at frequent intervals.

- Choosing food as an alternative to fight boredom or to unwind from work pressure.

Adults Are Just As Ignorant

Snacking has risen sharply even among healthy adults. Those who work in high-pressure jobs or have very high stress levels are found to frequently snack before their deadlines.

Chief Dietician Dr Sunitha Premlatha of Yashoda Hospitals explained, “Many adults are getting into the habit of eating at very short intervals. They binge on junk foods and opt for soft drinks to wash down their burgers.”