March 2025
Namaskar,
A discussion session on nutrition and a balanced diet was conducted for the children of Awaaz Child Group, Simrabhawanipur, Rautahat.
Before starting today’s session, we briefly reviewed the behaviors we had learned in the previous meeting. When asked about the efforts being made at home, in the community, and at school to prevent violence, each child shared their plans and the changes in their behavior. They said things like:
- “We don’t scold or hit our younger siblings or friends.”
- “We listen to what our elders say.”
- “For the past 15 days, we haven’t experienced any kind of violence.”
- “If we see or experience any violence, we will all speak up against it.”
Hearing these responses was truly inspiring.
As we moved on to today’s topic, I asked the children, “What did you eat today?” Each child shared what they had eaten, and I noticed that many were not consuming a balanced diet. So, I explained the different food groups to them, i.e. the different types of food which should be present in their diet:
- Energy-giving foods – These foods provide strength to do our daily activities. Examples include rice, roti, beaten rice, puffed rice, potatoes, corn, etc.
- Body-building foods – These foods help in growth and muscle development. Examples include milk, fish, meat, eggs, lentils, etc.
- Protective foods – These foods protect us from diseases and strengthen our immune system. Examples include green leafy vegetables and fruits like mango, banana, apple, orange, cucumber, carrot, tomato, guava, etc.
As I explained, I could see that the children were fully engaged and understanding the importance of these foods.
Then, I asked them, “What do you eat for snacks at school?” Most answered instant noodles, biscuits, chips, and similar packaged foods.
I gently explained:
- “We should eat a variety of colorful foods.”
- “We should reduce sugar and tea consumption.”
- “Drinking plenty of water is important.”
- “Food should not only be tasty but also nutritious so that our body gets the necessary proteins and nutrients.”
- “Our body requires only 20% protein, out of which 12% is naturally produced by the body, and 8% must come from food. If we don’t get that 8% from food, even the 12% made by our body won’t be effective.”
- “Junk food provides no protein and affects our digestion, making us sick. It is just a waste of money!”
To make the session more engaging, I introduced a game. I divided the children into three groups, each representing one of the food categories. I placed food name cards and pictures in the center and asked them to pick the correct food cards for their category.
I was overjoyed to see that all the children picked the correct cards! Their enthusiasm and enjoyment were evident in their smiles.
At the end of the session, everyone promised to eat a balanced diet and avoid junk food. With this commitment, we concluded the discussion for the day.
Thank you,
Binod Kumar Ram
Simrabhawanipur, Rautahat