Approximately 25% of children globally consume an imbalanced diet.
Having a variety of meals is essential for kids, but not everyone understands this. In fact, about 25% of young children reside in areas with malnutrition, and many of them eat just milk and rice. Wealthy homes aren't off the hook either as per UNICEF.
In a recent UNICEF report, it's highlighted that 25% of the under-5 kids globally have inadequate nutrition, making them vulnerable to severe malnutrition. There are 8 essential food groups: breast milk, cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat/fish, eggs, and dairy products. Around 181 million kids worldwide fall short of consuming 2 or more of these categories.
The study spanned over 90 countries, intending to shed light on how many kids can't access diverse diets required for proper growth and development. Most of the children classified as malnourished rely on milk or milk-based meals and a staple food such as rice, maize, or wheat. Only a small fraction eats fruits and veggies (less than 10%) and even fewer nutrient-rich foods like eggs, fish, poultry, or meat (less than 5%). These kids are 50% more likely to have serious malnutrition issues.
The socio-economic repercussions of the pandemic, rising inequalities, conflicts, and the climate crisis have led to soaring food prices and living costs, states the report. These 181 million malnourished children worldwide are predominantly from just 20 countries, with over 64 million in Africa and Asia.
In Africa, one in every three kids under 5 years old has severe malnutrition. UNICEF identifies the primarily affected countries as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda, and Tanzania. It's not solely due to low household incomes causing malnutrition in kids - even those from middle or high-class families are being impacted. With affordable, nutrient-deficient, unhealthy, and ultra-processed foods laden with sugar now being marketed aggressively to families, parents are finding it difficult to provide nutritious meals and practice healthy eating habits for their children.
