Celebrate a World of Flavours
Merwyn Couto
In India, the first week in September is recognized as National Nutrition Week. This week’s goal is to raise public awareness about healthy eating habits and get enough nutrition to sustain a healthy lifestyle. To stay healthy, two things are mainly required – a balanced diet and an active and healthy lifestyle. The government launched initiatives to increase nutrition awareness for National Nutrition Week.
National Nutrition Week is marked with a particular theme every year. The theme of National Nutrition Week 2022 is ‘Celebrate a World of Flavours.’ The purpose is to motivate people to have healthy nutrition while enjoying the flavours of food.
National Nutrition Week runs from September 1-7, but Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month), is celebrated in September. It focuses on malnutrition in children and mothers across the country. “The main aim is to focus on the nutrition of the mother and child. We have nutrition awareness programs in schools and Anganwadis, because everything starts from childhood,” says Nutrition Officer, Zhenya Lobo, of Directorate of Health Services at Mapusa Urban Health Centre. She further adds, “Anganwadi children get ‘nashta’ and school children are provided mid-day meals with different items throughout the week which are rich in calories and proteins.”
“Expecting mothers after three months of pregnancy and after doing full detailed tests, are supposed to register themselves in the Balwadi and the Health Department and receive a mother and child card. The mother receives SNP (supplementary nutrition program), which provides her with a monthly supply of grains, moong, chana, chana, dal and soya beans. She also gets cooking oil, jaggery, and other ingredients. The mother continues to get the SNP after six months of delivery because she’s breastfeeding, after that it’s transferred to the child. The supplementary nutrition program continues for the child throughout schooling”, says Lobo.
In 1982, India’s first National Nutrition Week was established. The government began several programs to educate and motivate people about healthy nutrition, its relationship with longevity and good health.
There are many benefits to eating a healthy diet and good nutrition. You are protected from various chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It also helps you stay fit and healthy so you can live a long, happy, prosperous life.
Global Hunger Health Index Report 2021 ranks India 101st out of 116 countries. India’s hunger needs immediate attention, scoring 27.5
