Data from the Institute of Nutrition in 2014 shows that in Vietnam, 1 in 4 children is stunted. Specifically, nearly 70% of children lack zinc, 54-62% lack vitamin D, and calcium only meets about 60% of needs. Children’s diet is not nutritious or scientific. Specifically, Associate Professor Dr. Mai said: feeding children too much protein will prevent calcium from being absorbed, and will also be eliminated from the body, affecting bone development. Or a diet that lacks fat is not beneficial for the absorption of micronutrients in the child’s body.
Another notable cause is mistakes in forcing children to eat. According to Prof. Dr. Pham Gia Khanh, Vice President of the Vietnam Pediatric Association, forcing children to eat will cause a big vicious cycle: forcing children to eat – afraid to eat – stunted – forced to eat, and if the force-feeding continues for a long time, it will causes anorexia, affecting the child’s physical and mental health.
Professor Dr. Khanh also said that a recent survey by the international market research group IPSOS conducted in 4 Big cities Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho show that up to 58% of children have eating problems.
Therefore, in order for children to be healthy and not lacking in micronutrients, Assoc. Dr. Bach Mai recommends following the 10 reasonable nutritional tips of the National Institute of Nutrition and diversifying meals according to WHO recommendations, including cooking oils and fats of all kinds; fruit and vegetable group; egg group; meat, fish and seafood group; milk and dairy products group; group of seeds of all kinds; food group (rice, corn, cassava). Accordingly, each meal needs to have at least 5/8 basic groups of substances and must contain fat (including fats and oils). And for both adults and children, milk is the most valuable biological source of calcium.
Particularly about psychology, Professor. Khanh believes that “Eating is one of the four pleasures. Therefore, meals need to be enjoyable and comfortable for children to accept, not forced to eat. To do so, mothers must understand children’s physiology and diversify foods so children have many choices.”
Tran Phuong
Email: tranthuphuong@dantri.com.vn
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