Nutritional Education (Human Nutrition 11-28-2012)

Despite the many advances of our modern societies, there is still a great deal of ignorance as to what constitutes a nutritious diet. Many people in this day and age still lack the knowledge to make food choices for themselves and their offspring. That is why it is more important than ever to spread this necessary information in the hope of educating people in order that they may increase and prolong the quality of their health through nutritional education. It is only through nutritional education that people can make informed decisions as to what comprises healthy eating for healthy functioning throughout the life cycle.

            According to Sizer (2011), “significant numbers of U.S. children in families of low food security consume enough calories each day, but from a steady diet of inexpensive, low-nutrient foods, such as white bread, fats, sugary punches, and crackers, with few of the fruits, vegetables, milk products, and other nutritious foods children need to be healthy” (575). This problem is due to a lack of understanding as to what constitutes healthy eating and the effect that these foods have on not only one’s growth and development, but long-term health as well. This lack of knowledge can lead to malnourishment, which can have as much of an effect on growth and development, as well as overall health to adults as well as being undernourished. People may be foolishly led to believe that just because they have adequate amounts to eat that this is sufficient to their health until problems such as diabetes, and hypertension begin to occur. A lack of knowledge about healthy food choices may not become a concern until after their overall health becomes effected and necessitates medical interventions.

            In the U.S. food stamp programs provide benefits to lower-income and poverty-stricken families and individuals to assist in their being able to obtain enough food to feed themselves. The problem with the food stamp program is that “nutrition education is not a mandatory component” of these programs (Cason 4). People are allowed to use these funds to choose nutritionally inadequate foods which may actually have a detrimental  effect to ones health over the long-term. According to Cason (1999), “individuals receiving food stamps” actually have “less than adequate diets than those low-income individuals who do not receive food stamps” (4). The lack of encouraging those receiving benefits to receive nutritional education may actually be a detriment when food choices are not made with informed decisions as to what is necessary nutrition and effects overall long-term health.

            Lack of nutritional education in mothers adversely effects the health of children. According to Brundtland (2000), “malnutrition and infection in children is the outcome of poverty, ignorance, and, among other factors, high-risk pregnancies (14). “One of the most important factors in reducing child deaths and the vicious cycle between nutrition, infection, and poverty is female education and literacy” (14). Pregnant women are especially in need of nutritional education in order to prevent health problems and deaths of their defenseless children.

            The lack of nutritional education can have many adverse effects. Individuals without the information to make healthy food choices can become malnourished, as well as undernourished, causing lifelong health problems. Parents who are uninformed about how to make healthy food decisions not only adversely affect their own health, but also put their children at risk as well for health problems. Nutritional education is a very important matter and should be more heavily promoted to allow individuals to make better decisions towards their diet and ensure a longer, healthier life.

Works Cited:

Brundtland, G.H. (2000). “Nutrition and Infection: Malnutrition and Mortality in Public Health”. Nutrition Reviews. pp. S1-S4.  

Cason, K.L. (1999) “Hunger and Food Insecurity”. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences. 91.1. 49-55.

Klein, B.W. (1998). “Could There Be Hunger in America?” Nutrition Insights. Insight 8,

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2011). Nutrition Concepts and Controversies. 12^th ed. Cengage Learning.

Food Poverty (Human Nutrition 11-25-2012)

  Food poverty is a problem that exists in every country around the globe. In the U.S. alone it is said that there are “11.9 million households” or “12 percent” of households that consistently experience hunger in their daily lives (Klein 1). In America, “people go without nourishing meals not because there is no food nearby to purchase, but because they lack sufficient money to pay for both the food they need and other necessities, such as clothing, housing, medicines, and utilities” (Sizer 575). According to Cason (1999), “living below the poverty line puts tremendous strains on a household budget, adversely affecting the ability to purchase a nutritionally adequate diet” (3). Food poverty is one of the major problems facing our global society and eradicating it is a major concern for the future of our planet.

            In the U.S. during the 1960’s, according to Cason, “food security became a high-priority issue at all levels of government” (4). In the past few decades many programs were instituted to combat the growing epidemic of hunger in our society, examples of which are the “Food Stamp Program” and the “Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children” or WIC (4). Despite the institution of these programs though, often times the receivers of supplemental benefits may use these funds to “pay utility bills or other necessities” (Klein 2). Another problem concerning the Federal program coverage, according to Klein, is that not all “communities sponsor the range of Federal Food assistance” and these programs are only “available in a limited number of places” (12). In our recent economic climate, “state and local governments and private charities, enlisted to make up for federal cutbacks and budget restraints, are increasingly unable to shoulder the burden”, and have had to make “severe cuts” in their programs (Cason 6). The only solution to this problem is to learn how to better allocate already limited funds and resources and minimize their waste.

            Food poverty has another detrimental effect upon our society. A lack of an adequate nutritious diet during the formative years of the individual can lead to “stunting and wasting”, which limits the “mental development” of the individual, and “decisively handicapping the affected millions that do not die” (Brundtland 12). According to Brundtland (2000), these survivors of malnutrition have “special difficulties in terms of their cognitive and physical development” resulting in a more limited adulthood where the individual is “less productive”, and “earn less” (12). This situation can result in a “drain on human resources” in terms of medical costs that burden the state, and result in less productive citizens (12). This situation can be detrimental to an individual’s community as well as to the overall society when an inadequate diet results in diminished functioning, behavior problems, and physical handicaps that cause the individual to become a drain on society, rather than a healthy person who can enjoy full participation in their society. The only means to eradicate this problem is to ensure that all of our citizens have an equal access to the nutrient-dense foods that allow for healthy growth and functioning throughout the life cycle of the individual.

            Food poverty can have several detrimental effects, not only to the individual but also to the individual’s society. When people do not receive an adequate, nutrient-dense diet in their growing years, development becomes retarded and one’s potential is not the same as if the individual had received the proper nutrition during the formative years. Children who are unable to receive an adequate diet may not be able to concentrate in school, and may develop behavioral problems. Individuals who are unable to gain access to a nutrient-dense diet may develop health problems throughout their life cycle for which they may need medical assistance provided by the state, further draining available resources. When individuals are unable to get their dietary needs met, their functioning in their society is reduced, and instead of being able to have a healthy and full function and participation in their society, they instead make the social environment weaker. It is only addressing the problem of food poverty that we can be more healthy as a society as a whole, as the health of the individual also effects the health of our society as well.

Works Cited:

Brundtland, G.H. (2000). “Nutrition and Infection: Malnutrition and Mortality in Public Health”. Nutrition Reviews. pp. S1-S4.  

Cason, K.L. (1999) “Hunger and Food Insecurity”. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences. 91.1. 49-55.

Klein, B.W. (1998). “Could There Be Hunger in America?” Nutrition Insights. Insight 8,

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2011). Nutrition Concepts and Controversies. 12^th ed. Cengage Learning.