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IMPORTANCE OF
NUTRITION – Mother Miracle
Project and Nutrition
Education
Rachel Peters - Dietitian
MY PROJECT


To assess the nutritional adequacy of the diets of
the children at Mother Miracle and to make
recommendations that would improve their diets
Adequate nutrition intake is important for good
growth and health and also helps children
perform better and concentrate at school
MOTHER MIRACLE PROJECT


I have measured the height and weight of the
children and compared to standard levels
 Most children (82.1%) are growing well
 Almost 1 in 5 children show signs of being
underweight or malnourished (18%)
 3 children appear to be close to being
overweight for their age
This is based on updated date of birth records
and relies on accurate age for the child
MOTHER MIRACLE PROJECT

I measured the difference in growth in children
compared to the measurements taken by the
dietitian in 2011 (53 children)
 Most children are growing well
 Only 1 out of 53 appeared to have only grown
3.5cm in 2 years
Age
Height
Difference
(cm)
Percentage
Weight
Growth since Difference
2011
(kg)
Percentage
Growth since
2011
6-9
3.5 - 15.9cm
3.18 -14.65%
4 - 10.1kg
22.63 -50.5%
10-13
8.3 – 17.1cm
7.7 - 14.15%
3.3 – 12.4kg
17.67 – 47%
MOTHER MIRACLE PROJECT


I have taken diet histories from the children to
find out about their usual diet. I then analysed
this to look at what nutrients they are low in.
UGK to 3rd class – 3 day diet history
5% had missed breakfast once, 15% had missed at
least one evening meal
 17.5% did not have vegetables at home in the past 3
days
 42.5% did not have dahl at home in the last 3 days
 45% had fruit less than once per week
 47.5% had milk less than twice per week
 65% ate nuts once per month or less

MOTHER MIRACLE PROJECT

4th and 5th Class
Asked about the frequency they eat a list of foods
 Analyzed for nutrients that are commonly inadequate
in Indian diets



Vitamin A. B12. C, D, iron, iodine, zinc, calcium and
protein
Found that most children were not meeting their
recommended dietary allowance (RDA)
Mother Miracle Project

Results 4th and 5th class
Vitamin Vit A
/Mineral µg
Vit B12
µg
Intake
range
81.28 - 0.14
723.55
3.53
Intake
average
387.17
Vit D
µg
- 0.07
1.63
Iron
Mg
Zinc
mg
- 4.39
19.89
– 2.7112.91
Iodine
µmol
Calcium
mmol
Vit C
mg
Protein
g
0.17-6.11 104.981110.78
13.24105.26
16.6594.82
31.67
45.11
1.3
0.45
9.68
6.8
2.2
497.6
RDA: (7- 600
9, 10-12,
13+ yrs)
0.2- 1
10
16- 32
8 - 11
0.95-1.19 600 - 800 40
29.5-54.3
No. not 32
meeting
RDA
Deficient 86%
under
RDA (%)
16
37
36
35
12
36
31
13
43%
No**
97%
95%
32%
97%
84%
35%
RECOMMENDATIONS

Double fortified salt


Consider providing children with a glass of milk


Vitamin A, B12 and C, calcium, protein, zinc, iodine
Vitamin A fortified oil


increase iron intake
Vitamin A and D
Change frequency of vegetables
Vitamin A rich vegetable at least 2/wk
 Vitamin C rich vegetable at least 2/wk
 Include soya bean in subji with vitamin C rich
vegetable


Include Nutrela (soya protein) 1/wk
Mother Miracle Project
Changes to children’s intake if recommendations are
implemented
Vitamin
Vit A
Vit B12 Vit D
Iron
Zinc
Iodine
Calcium Vit C

/Mineral
µg
µg
Increased
provision
81.28 - 0.14
723.55 3.53
%
increase
meeting
RDA
Childre
n
meeting
RDA
387.17
1.3
600
0.2- 1
mg
Protein
g
0.17-6.11 104.981110.78
13.24105.26
16.6594.82
6.8
2.2
31.67
45.11
8 - 11
0.95-1.19 600 - 800 40
µg
Mg
mg
- 0.07
1.63
- 4.39
19.89
– 2.7112.91
0.45
9.68
10
16- 32
µmol
mmol
497.6
29.5-54.3
Hygiene
Hygiene is very important to stay healthy and
prevent disease
 Simple things to help improve hygiene







Wash hands regularly with soap – after toilet, before
and after eating, before preparing food
Wash vegetables and fruit thoroughly before cutting
and eating
Boil water and milk to kill bacteria
Keep dairy, meat and fresh vegetables
at less than 10oC (eg in fridge) where possible
Filtered water
Brush your teeth
Water
Many children reported having headaches often
 Some only had 2-3 glasses of water per day
 It is recommended to have at least 8 cups of
water per day and more when it is summer time.
 Encourage the children to have regular intake of
water during the day

Nutrients studied
Protein
 Vitamin A
 Vitamin B12
 Vitamin D
 Iron
 Zinc
 Iodine
 Calcium
 Vitamin C

PROTEIN
 Function

Growth and repair, make new cells and
hormones
 Sources


Meat, dahl and beans, dairy, eggs, nuts and
seeds, soya beans, wheat (eg roti)
Important to have a variety
 Deficiency


poor growth in children, poor immune
system, weakness in strength, anaemia
Higher risk in vegetarian and poorer
communities
VITAMIN A

Function


Sources


Important for normal vision, particularly at night,
helps strengthen immunity and important for health
skin and gut lining
Cheese, eggs, milk,
Deficiency

Night blindness, bitot spots
VITAMIN B
 Group
foods


of 8 vitamins found in various
B1, B2, B3, B5, B7 folate, B12
B12 is common deficiency found in India
Vitamin B12

Function


Sources



helps protects nerves, maintain mental ability,
make red blood cells, make energy for the body
meat, liver, milk, cheese, eggs
only found in animal based foods
Deficiency

fatigue, nerve damage, depression, weight loss
VITAMIN C

Function


Sources


Immune system, wound healing, important to keep
organs and cells healthy and strong
Tomato, cauliflower, cabbage, potato, giant
chilli/capsicum, citrus fruit (orange, lemon, lime,
grapefruit), alma, guava, coriander leaves, agathi,
Deficiency
Poor immune system,
 Scurvy – bleeding and swollen gums,
red dots on skin, tiredness, muscle and joint pain

VITAMIN D
Function
 Sources

Eggs, powdered milk, fortified oil, oily fish
 The Sun!! The body creates Vitamin D when the
skin is exposed to the sun.


Deficiency
Weak bones and decreased bone density, increased
risk of osteoporosis in adulthood
 Increased risk in those who do not go outside often.
Also, if the skin is covered up then you cannot
produce Vitamin D

IRON

Function


Sources


Creating heamglobin (blood), mental function,
improve immune system
Red meat, legumes, soya beans, green leafy
vegetables - Amaranth, bengalgram leaves,
cauliflower greens and radish leaves
Deficiency
Anaemia – 50-70% of the Indian population have
anaemia and most is related to poor iron intake
 Feeling very tired, no energy, poor immune system

WAYS TO IMPROVE IRON INTAKE
•
Eat foods high in Vitamin C at the same time to
improve absorption


Some foods reduce iron absorption and should be
limited at meal time with iron rich foods

•
Tomato, cauliflower (gaubi), cabbage (patta gaubi), fruit –
citrus, alma, guava
Tea, coffee, chocolate, eggs, peppermint and chamomile
Sprouting beans will help improve iron (and zinc)
content
CALCIUM

Function


Sources


Important for strong bones, muscle contraction,
heartbeat
Dairy foods – milk, cheese (paneer), yoghurt/curd,
green leafy vegetables, soya bean, almonds (badam),
fish eaten with bones
Deficiency

Poor growth, weak and soft bones that can break
easily, bone pain, bone deformaties – bowed legs,
dental cavities
IODINE

Function


Helps to make hormones that are important for
metabolism and keeping cells healthy
Sources

Sea fish, milk, eggs, iodized salt, legumes, seaweed


Important not to have too much salt as this will increase
blood pressure
Deficiency
In children – stunted growth, decreased intelligence,
retardation
 Goitre – enlarged thyroid, dry skin, hair loss, fatigue
and slowed reflexes.

ZINC

Function


Sources


Helps make new cells and enzymes, helps digest
protein, fat and carbohydrate, wound healing
Dairy - milk, paneer, curd, cereal product (wheat) eg
bread/chapati, meat, shellfish, legumes, nuts, tofu
Deficiency

Decreased immune system, diarrhea, decreased
eyesight, taste, smell, poor memory
Thank you!!!