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.