Children are seen as our future. We must properly nurture them for that. They should be given a well-balanced diet full of nutrients that are essential for their future health, cognitive development, and physical growth. But now, what’s going on? Children are becoming victims of high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar foods and soft drinks. Their development and growth are thus impacted. Their immunity is weak. They are unable to fight off illnesses and have deficiencies like low vitamin D3, low calcium and vitamin levels, poor bone development, pre-diabetes, obesity, and poor mental health. They hardly ever eat salads or fruits and vegetables. Where is the fault? It really begins with their parents. If they feed them healthy, wholesome food from the beginning and keep them away from so-called junk food like pizza, pasta, noodles, burgers, and sugar-filled drinks, they will grow up to be physically and mentally alert.Overall growth and gut health are impacted if the parents are permissive and give in to their whims, such as giving them junk food when they ask for it. Some of them demand aerated beverages, or other sweet beverages with their food, and they will only eat vegetables if mayo is added.
Children also don’t consume curd and milk. Mobile addiction causes low calcium and vitamin D levels, which weaken bones. Their vision also deteriorates. If people consistently eat certain items, they also have constipation. Second, these foods are deficient in fiber and vital elements like minerals and vitamins. Children have cavities, poor gums with plaque. In today’s environment, when a family is seated at the dinner table and the parents are occupied with their phones, the kids follow the same and become addicted to their phones. No one is focusing on the food, and parents don’t realize that. Consequently, the children are not receiving adequate nutrition. The frequent food advertising are also to blame. They guarantee that the food items have calcium, iron and is beneficial to their well-being.They feed them these packaged foods that are actually nutrient-deficient without bothering to read the labels. Some kids won’t eat anything unless they get their favorite sugary drinks. Some people choose their favorite toast or biscuits to a good breakfast. They dislike or are unable to accept milk. Parents don’t make an effort to teach their children proper eating habits. They sometimes give in to their requests or ask them to place an order using their favorite tool, the lethal mobile, because they are in a rush to go to work. To find out which of these unhealthy foods are available, kids are always actively browsing their phones.Dine-outs attempt to entice kids with enticing offers for these calorie-dense, low-nutrient items. Because they are not receiving the right nourishment, they are malnourished. They can have a vitamin A or B12 deficiency or anemia. They run the danger of malnutrition as a result of having such diets. (Dr. Rajeswari V Shetty, HOD (Nutrition and Dietetics), SL Raheja Hospital – A Fortis Associate, Mumbai)