Did you know that according to the UN’s World Food Programme, among children in developing countries, 25% are underweight?
Malnutrition, specifically under-nutrition, is the cause of underweight children throughout the world. Malnutrition is a term with many meanings—there are many types of deficiencies in the diet that can cause a person to be malnourished: iron; vitamins A or D; and various B vitamins, protein, and/or calories. Malnutrition can even refer to over-nutrition, which is seeing increasing rates especially in the U.S. But, in the developing world, the nutritional problems are most always of under-nutrition, especially in children.
Proper Nutrition Impacts Learning
And why is nutrition so important in children? The bodies of children—from birth and even into the early 20s, but especially in younger children—are still developing and therefore need optimal nutrition to develop properly. Deficiencies of any of the essential dietary components can lead to long-term damage. Additionally, as put by the World Health Organization, “Healthy children learn better. People with adequate nutrition are more productive and can create opportunities to gradually break the cycles of poverty and hunger.” Adequate nutrition has long-term positive effects not only on the body’s development, but also on education, decision-making, and productivity!
Rural China’s Malnutrition Problem
Clearly nutrition is important, so why aren’t kids getting adequate nutrition?
The reasons are many and varied depending on country and region, but in rural China, many children are underweight and have stunted growth because many adults do not fully understand the importance of a nutritious diet for children. Chinese parents also want to save money, which results in them not paying for the nutritious meals provided at the primary schools and skipping out on providing adequately nutritious meals at home.
In Northwest China, 50% of primary school children are protein deficient (2006 Stanford University study). Protein deficiency is highly dangerous, as protein is an essential component of every cell of the body!
The Egg Every Day Program
Thankfully, the Egg Every Day program run by the nonprofit Guan Ai is doing something great for primary-school-aged children in rural Shanxi Province, China. The Egg Every Day program provides two very important things:
1. Education for families about the importance of nutrition.
2. An egg each day for every student and staff member.
You may ask why Guan Ai is feeding these children an egg a day.
According to The Incredible Egg, eggs contain 12% (6g) of extremely high quality protein while additionally providing numerous vitamins and minerals like vitamin D, folate and calcium. Eggs also importantly contain choline, which is highly important for brain function. Essentially, eggs are superfood! They provide a wide range of nutrients in a small, inexpensive package and are therefore an ideal nutrient source for malnourished children.
To learn more about Givology’s partnership with Guan Ai, the Egg Every Day Program, and how you can help, click here!
What Do You Think?
What might be another food source that could easily be used to better nutrition in the developing world?
Malnutrition, specifically under-nutrition, is the cause of underweight children throughout the world. Malnutrition is a term with many meanings—there are many types of deficiencies in the diet that can cause a person to be malnourished: iron; vitamins A or D; and various B vitamins, protein, and/or calories. Malnutrition can even refer to over-nutrition, which is seeing increasing rates especially in the U.S. But, in the developing world, the nutritional problems are most always of under-nutrition, especially in children.
Proper Nutrition Impacts Learning
And why is nutrition so important in children? The bodies of children—from birth and even into the early 20s, but especially in younger children—are still developing and therefore need optimal nutrition to develop properly. Deficiencies of any of the essential dietary components can lead to long-term damage. Additionally, as put by the World Health Organization, “Healthy children learn better. People with adequate nutrition are more productive and can create opportunities to gradually break the cycles of poverty and hunger.” Adequate nutrition has long-term positive effects not only on the body’s development, but also on education, decision-making, and productivity!
Rural China’s Malnutrition Problem
Clearly nutrition is important, so why aren’t kids getting adequate nutrition?
The reasons are many and varied depending on country and region, but in rural China, many children are underweight and have stunted growth because many adults do not fully understand the importance of a nutritious diet for children. Chinese parents also want to save money, which results in them not paying for the nutritious meals provided at the primary schools and skipping out on providing adequately nutritious meals at home.
In Northwest China, 50% of primary school children are protein deficient (2006 Stanford University study). Protein deficiency is highly dangerous, as protein is an essential component of every cell of the body!
The Egg Every Day Program
Thankfully, the Egg Every Day program run by the nonprofit Guan Ai is doing something great for primary-school-aged children in rural Shanxi Province, China. The Egg Every Day program provides two very important things:
1. Education for families about the importance of nutrition.
2. An egg each day for every student and staff member.
You may ask why Guan Ai is feeding these children an egg a day.
According to The Incredible Egg, eggs contain 12% (6g) of extremely high quality protein while additionally providing numerous vitamins and minerals like vitamin D, folate and calcium. Eggs also importantly contain choline, which is highly important for brain function. Essentially, eggs are superfood! They provide a wide range of nutrients in a small, inexpensive package and are therefore an ideal nutrient source for malnourished children.
To learn more about Givology’s partnership with Guan Ai, the Egg Every Day Program, and how you can help, click here!
What Do You Think?
What might be another food source that could easily be used to better nutrition in the developing world?
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© 2008 Givology. Givology does not guarantee any repayment or return on your grant of any kind.