Preschool and Beyond: Nutrition and Malnutrition

Monday, September 19, 2011

Nutrition and Malnutrition

The topic I chose for this blog was nutrition and malnutrition. I chose this one because, I couldn't help but to think about how much food we waste here in the USA. The program that I work for the little children there just bite off of their lunch and then to the garbage can it goes. I can only encourage them to try the food, but if they do not want to eat, they have the right to just dump it in the garbage. I think that this is so wasteful, because I think about all the hungry children who would love to have that food. While are children are afforded a variety of choices to eat, the children in South Africa, struggle with malnutrition and a lack of key nutrients that are needed for proper growth and development. Children ages 1-9 suffer the most from nutrient defiency. They lack nutrients such as iron, vitamin A, iodine, protein, energy, riboflavin, calcium, and zinc. As I progress through out my educational and professional journey, I can and will do my best to help others understand the importance of all children having enough nourishing foods to eat for optimal growth and development. To do this, I don't have to go as far as South Africa, because we have starving children in our own communities.

3 comments:

karlisaSeptember 25, 2011 at 2:26 PM
I think that it is a great idea for child care centers to be able to patram servicipate in USDA food program sevices. My childcare center is on a USDA food program. We provide our kids with well balanced meals daily. We also provide our parents with essential information and resources to help provide nutritious meals at home and o help their children make nutritious decisions.
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Wanda GoetheOctober 1, 2011 at 11:36 PM
Priscilla,
That is so true how children and adults waste food when people next door might not have any. My husband and I are constantly talking to our daughters about this same thing. They are always donating canned goods and other unperishable items but I still want them to appreciate the luxury of having more than one meal a day. Great post.
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ccheever1October 2, 2011 at 8:10 PM
This is a good post. There are some children that look forward to eating lunch because that is the last meal that they will receive for that day. There are also some children at my school who take one bite out their food and throw it in the trash because of their picky eating habits. I explain to them that in order to be health you have to start with healhty eating habits.I tell them that many children around the world are starving and need food.
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Relationships

I currently have healthy relationships with my two sisters, my brother, my sons, my daughter, my father, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and colleagues. These relationships are healthy because we first take the time to acknowledge each other as individuals, keeping in mind that we come with our own beliefs, needs, desires, goals, and morals. Respecting each other and working through issues, help us to maintain open lines of communications. As we all know that no relationship is perfect, but being committed to forming strong relationships, can help everyone learn to be better people.

Personal Advocacy Reflection

I cannot pinpoint just one individual to talk about as it relates to advocacy and its effect on my life. There have been a number of people who have advocated and shared important information with me. So to name just one person would not be fair, because they all have impacted me greatly. All through-out my journey to pursue my higher learning education. These individuals have been very positive in sharing information as it relates to school and other opportunities. Because they were so supportive, I was able to pursue three separate degrees consecutively. They were also compassionate and encouraging as I raised my children as a young single mother. Through the sharing of vital information, I excelled higher and to greater places in my life. As a result of their kindness, I am paying it forward by sharing information and resources with others that may be looking to pursue a better life. I always find myself encouraging young mothers to do their best as mothers and to pursue more education in an effort to be a better provider for their young family. I pick up informative brochures and flyers that I come across when I'm out in the district for my job. I share those flyers and brochures with those young mothers and anyone else who's interested. I just believe that we must not be afraid to reach out to lending a helping hand, not a hand-out.

Relationship Reflection

As a mother of three, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and an employee, building and being apart of strong lasting relationships is very important to me. It is important to me, because it allows me to be accepted by my peers. It allows me to contribute to the lives of others in a positive way. It also allows me the grand opportunity to learn from the individuals I have relationships with. Learning how to give, receive, value the opinions of others, and agreeing to disagree are all some of the things I learn as I interact with my sisters, brothers, friends, children, and co-workers. Being able to see the world from the point of view of others is an awesome thing, because they can point out very important points, when our selfishness tend to rear it's head. Healthy relationships allow us to bear our feelings to others, our weaknesses revealed, enabling us to be strong by the strength and helping hands of others.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Nutrition and Malnutrition

3 comments:

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