A nutritious meal for every family and every child is essential for a healthy life, right? But, we all know how challenging it can be to feed a family with the difficulties of life, especially when there are financial problems. This is a real problem for many people. So today, let's talk about what we can do at a time like this, and how we can face this challenge.
Why is it sometimes difficult for a family to find nutritious food?
You may be wondering, "Why is this such a problem?" There could be several reasons. Let's take a look at the main ones:
- Lack of money: So this is the biggest thing. If you don't have money, it's hard to buy the things you need like vegetables, fruits, meat and fish. Finding money to eat along with your daily expenses is also a big deal.
- Lack of employment or low income: When you have no steady income, or when your income is insufficient, spending money on nutritious food can be a nightmare.
- Lack of access to shops: Imagine if there wasn't a good supermarket or a place to buy vegetables and fruits in your area? In that case, having to travel far to get groceries is another expense and hassle.
Sometimes the community we live in, that is, our village or city, also affects this. There are some areas, which are also called "Food Deserts" . That is, there are few large supermarkets or places to buy various nutritious foods in those areas. However, small shops, that is, `convenience stores`, are common in such places. However, the prices of goods in those shops are also high, and there are very few things like fruits and vegetables.
These challenges in finding nutritious food can affect anyone, at any age. Young children as well as adults face this problem.
Why is a nutritious diet so important?
You might be thinking, "Okay, what happens if we eat less?" But the truth is, a nutritious diet is very important for our physical health as well as our mental health.
In communities where nutritious food is not easily available and affordable, people often turn to fast food restaurants because they are easily available and sometimes appear to be cheap. However, the nutritional value of such fast food is very low.
A lack of essential vitamins and minerals found in fruits, vegetables, and nutritious foods can lead to a variety of health problems. Here are a few examples:
- Iron Deficiency: This condition occurs when the body does not get enough iron. This can cause low blood pressure, fatigue, and sometimes difficulty breathing. In young children, this can lead to learning disabilities, memory loss, and behavioral problems such as hyperactivity . This means that they have trouble paying attention and may not remember lessons.
- Obesity: When you eat too much food that is low in nutritional value, high in sugar and fat, you start to gain unnecessary weight. This can later lead to serious diseases like diabetes mellitus and heart disease.
- Mental health issues: High sugar diets and nutritional deficiencies can cause mood swings in children. This increases the risk of mental illnesses like anxiety and depression when they reach a young age. Think about it, the brain needs a balanced diet to function properly. Good nutrition is essential to maintain the balance of certain chemicals in the brain, which we call ``Neurotransmitters'' .
A well-balanced diet can also help prevent health conditions like asthma and emotional stress. Children who eat well are more active, which helps them maintain a healthy weight and avoid health problems associated with obesity.
Simply put, what we eat affects our entire life. That's why it's so important to take care of our nutrition.
Where can families find food resources?
Now you may be wondering, "Isn't there somewhere we can turn to for help when we have these kinds of difficulties?" There really is! There are services and programs that are provided anonymously and free of charge to help children and families find nutritious food. Let's take a look at some of these. Some of these programs may not be available in Sri Lanka, but it's important to be aware of them. Also, you can check to see if there are any similar programs in Sri Lanka, either by the government or by NGOs.
Here are some types of programs that operate internationally:
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
This is a program called `WIC (Women, Infants, and Children).` This program provides cash assistance to low-income pregnant mothers, mothers of newborns, and infants and children under 5 years of age who are at risk of malnutrition to buy food items such as formula, infant cereal, fruits, and vegetables. You can find more information about this online.
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
`SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program)` is a program that helps families buy nutritious foods within their food budget. Through this, families are able to buy a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products. To apply for this, you must comply with the rules and regulations of the state where you live, and your income level also affects it. You can find more information about this online.
School Breakfast Program
This is a federal program that operates in public and non-profit private schools. Children are provided with free or reduced-price breakfasts based on family income and the number of family members. This program is also implemented in some schools in our country, right? Check it out.
National School Lunch Program
This program also provides free or reduced-price lunches to children in government and non-profit private schools, depending on family income. This is also a major boost to child nutrition.
Summer Food Service Program
The aim of this program is to ensure that children receive nutritious meals during school holidays. During the summer holidays, free meals are provided to children and young people aged 18 and under.
National Hunger Hotline
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Hunger Hotline connects families with resources in their community for emergency food needs. For example, it can connect you to food banks, government assistance programs, and other social service agencies. They have phone numbers and websites.
The most important thing is that, while learning about such international programs, you should do some research on your own to find out what government or non-government organizations in our country, Sri Lanka, provide such assistance, and how to get help from them. Perhaps you can get more information about this from your local Grama Niladhari or Family Health Service Officer (midwife).
The most important things to remember (Take-Home Message)
So, I hope you've learned something from what we've talked about today. Difficult times come to everyone's lives. But we shouldn't be afraid to ask for help and explore the resources available during those times.
- A nutritious diet is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It is very important for our physical and mental health.
- Even when money is tight, try to plan nutritious meals. It can sometimes be cheaper to buy all the vegetables and fruits you need for the week at the market. Also, cooking at home is much healthier and cheaper than eating out.
- If you need help, talk about it. Talk about your problems with someone you trust (a family member, a friend, a family health worker).
- Research the aid programs available in Sri Lanka. Find out if there are ways to get help from the government, divisional secretariats, or non-governmental organizations in times like these.
Don't forget, you are not alone. There are many people who face similar problems. The most important thing is to keep trying and get help from where you need it. Everyone has the right to be healthy and happy!
` Food security, nutrition, low income, family health, food assistance, child nutrition, (Budget Nutrition)
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