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National Nutrition Week – Find out if your child is malnourished with these signs

And prevent it with these expert tips.

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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : September 8, 2015 10:13 AM IST

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National Nutrition Week is from September 1 to 7 and the focus is on better nutrition key to development and steps to reduce malnutrition in children. Dietician Mansi Padechia suggests tips to find out if your child is malnourished.

What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition is a condition where there is an insufficient supply of nutrition due to not eating enough food or not eating the right food or being unable to metabolise the food that one eats. The food lacks protein, micronutrients and calories required by the body. Did you know the different types of malnutrition? Infants are at a risk of being malnourished if their nutrition requirements are not met.

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Is your child malnourished?

Now, the question is how to judge whether your child falls under the category of malnutrition. There are few signs listed below that can give you a hint to understand your child's health.

  • If your child falls ill time and again, it could be a sign of malnutrition.
  • If your child does not grasp things soon, it could be another sign.
  • If there is a delay in reaching developmental milestone.
  • If your child s weight is low for their age.
  • If your child experiences weight loss.
  • If there is swelling or fluid accumulation in your child s body.
  • If your child is constantly irritable or lethargic.
  • If your child is unable to eat or only eats small amounts of food.

How to prevent malnutrition in children?

  • Ensure proper nutrition for the mother during pregnancy.
  • Feed the baby breast milk for the first six months to keep malnutrition at bay.
  • Replace missing nutrients by giving your child a well-balanced diet.
  • Gradually increase the number of calories in your child s diet.
  • Provide a diet rich in calories like sesame laddoo, sago porridge, rice flakes chikki, khichdi, wheat payasam, date-nuts roll. Here are 5 more foods to prevent malnutrition.
  • Include protein-rich foods such as milk, curd, paneer, dals, sprouts, eggs.
  • Foods rich in iron like garden cress seeds, dates, rice flakes, pomegranate, green leafy vegetables, etc. should be added to their diet.

Image source: Shutterstock

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