National Nutrition Week (NNW) is an annual nutrition event organized by the Food and Nutrition Board within the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India and was held from the 1st to the 7th of September, to create awareness about nutrition and emphasise on its necessity. As we are just about getting off the heels of the National Nutrition Week, read on to understand what it is all about!
Nutrition Awareness
Nutrition is the process of providing the necessary food that is required for ideal health and growth. It is a branch of science that deals with nutrients. Nutrients are important with respect to maintenance, growth, health, reproduction, and protection from diseases. A healthy and balanced diet provides all nutrients required by the body including vitamins, essential fats, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, etc. The human body requires seven major types of nutrients which are essential for living a healthy lifestyle. These seven nutrients are carbohydrates, fats, dietary fibre, minerals, proteins, vitamins, and water which can be categorized as macronutrients and micronutrients.
According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, over 10% of the Indian population is malnourished. Therefore, in order to make people aware of the importance of nutrition and to curb the problem of malnutrition, National Nutrition Week is celebrated every year from 1st September to 7th September.
National Nutrition Week 2020: Theme
The theme for National Nutrition Week 2020 was ‘Eat Right, Bite by Bite’.
This year’s theme focuses on how food helps with immunity, choosing the main source of nutrition wisely, preparing food the right way to avoid loss of important nutrients and more. National Nutrition Week propagates a holistic approach, one that puts emphasis on physical and mental health, reflected in varying themes each year.
History of National Nutrition Week
In March 1973, National Nutrition Week was started by the members of the American Dietetic Association (now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) to deliver the message of nutrition awareness while promoting the profession of dietetics.
In India, National Nutrition Week was first organized by the Food and Nutrition Board in 1982 to educate people in all states across India about the importance of nutrition and the need to adopt a sustainable healthy lifestyle. It is celebrated by organizing workshops, orientation training of educational programs, awareness generation campaigns, and community meetings during the week.
PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the latest address of Mann ki Baat announced that the month of September would be observed as “Poshan Maah” (Nutrition Month). He spoke about how he believed that the nation and nutrition are very closely interrelated. He emphasized on the importance of nutrition in children and their mothers. A nutritious diet plays a vital role in helping students perform to the best of their abilities among many other obvious benefits. He voiced the need to increase awareness about nutrition and recalled the popular philosophy “Yatha Annam Tatha Mannam,” which means “mental and intellectual development is directly related to the quality of our food intake.”
Thus, the main aim of National Nutrition Week is to resolve many health issues that occur due to dietary negligence. By planning, creating awareness, and taking necessary steps for the same, this initiative can help citizens follow the right path to great health and nutrition.
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