On the Global Hunger Index 2016, India ranks 97th out of the 118 nations with widespread hunger levels, faring worse in comparison to China (29), Nepal (72), Myanmar (75), Sri lanka (84) and Bangladesh (90). Despite tremendous economic progress, India remains home to 184 million undernourished people.
A recent Bengaluru-based study conducted among 634 schoolchildren, drawn from various socio-economic classes, found that up to 95% could be at risk of inadequate micronutrient intake, with almost 70% having insufficient intake of 4 or more micronutrients. The nutrients most inadequate are Vitamin A, folate, Vitamin B12 and iron, leaving children susceptible to stunting, weak immune systems, anaemia & impaired cognitive function.
What constitutes a balanced diet for a mother is home food she gives her child. But, a balanced diet is the amount of intake of crucial vitamins and minerals needed for growth. Unfortunately, parents are unaware of symptoms of hidden hunger. A study of 111 affluent Mumbai mothers found, more than half were didn’t know if their child was under or overweight.
Micronutrient deficiency, called hidden hunger, is inadequate intake of Vitamins and minerals like zinc, Vitamin A and folate crucial for mental and physical growth of children.
The solution is to help parents feed children a diverse diet, including cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables and animal-source foods. Parents can also look out for fortified foods and drinks consistently ranked as top investments in child development. A study by the Indian National Institute of Nutrition concluded that supplementation of daily diet with a beverage fortified with a range of micronutrients, improved physical growth, attention and concentration scores among urban schoolchildren.