UNICEF has released a book that gives the right diet to tackle problems of underweight, obese and anemic?children in India. The nutritious food is supposed to cost less than Rs 20.?
The book has taken into consideration the findings of the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2016-18 according to which 35 per cent of children under five are stunted, 17 per cent are wasted and 33 per cent are underweight.
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Associate Press
The book lists recipes of food items and their cost of preparation.?To tackle the problem of underweight- the book lists items like potato stuffed paratha, paneer kathi roll and sago cutlets.
To tackle obesity - it suggests sprouted dal parantha, poha and vegetable upma.
UNICEF chief Henrietta H Fore said that the aim of the book was to tell people what is nutritious and in what amount. She talked about the two stages in the life of a person when nutrition is very important.?
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PA
"The first is in the first 1000 days of a child and for that we need to reach young mothers and second is when you are in adolescence and for that we need to go into schools," Fore said to PTI.
"The first one would require healthcare workers at hospitals. It is at that time you can teach a young mother about nutrition and the second one is at adolescence when it can be communicated through teachers, knowledge of nutritious food needs to be brought into schools and made part of the curriculum," the UNICEF chief further said.
According to her the book should become a part of school curriculum. She said, "So that there is good nutrition and I think national nutrition plans will incorporate this but we at UNICEF will be by their side and working with them on a good communication plan.¡±
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Rhiyu Chaterjee
She hopes that the book will be translated into regional languages so that its reach can improve.?
The book comes with a supplement that talks about the causes and consequences of being underweight, obese and anaemic.?