“Many people still think that a balanced diet is only within the reach of those who have the means, when in fact natural and local foods such as sweet potatoes, bananas and cassava are extremely nutritious and ideal for children,” she commented.
Educating the palate is educating the future. This is the principle that guides the work of nurse and nutritionist Emília Macome, who dedicates her daily work to monitoring children with malnutrition and eating disorders, with a special focus on maternal and child health.
The nutritionist, who gave an interview to “MozaVibe”, proposes a nutritional reeducation that begins at home and extends to school, involving parents, caregivers and the entire community. According to Macome, one of the biggest challenges today is to dispel the myth that nutrition is a luxury accessible only to those who have money.
“Many people still think that a balanced diet is only within the reach of those who have the means, when in fact natural and local foods such as sweet potatoes, bananas and cassava are extremely nutritious and ideal for children,” she commented.
The warning goes beyond the choice of food. According to the nutritionist, the greatest risk lies in the fast pace of modern life, which has prevented parents from directly monitoring their children’s diet. The lack of supervision, misinformation from nannies and randomness in meal times and types are now some of the causes of serious problems such as anemia, developmental delay, childhood diabetes, early hypertension and bone weakness.
The nutritionist emphasizes that a good diet is built on variety in each meal. It is in the balanced combination of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and proteins that the body finds its basis for immunity and energy.
“Everything we do, the mind follows. Eating well is taking care of the body and the mind at the same time.”
It is important that parents know how to play their role in shaping their children's eating habits.
“Children learn by observing. If their parents eat poorly, they tend to repeat the same behaviors. And if parents offer sweets as rewards, they create a psychological pattern that associates rewards with sugar, which is dangerous in the long term.” Therefore, he suggests gradually replacing sweets with fruits and natural foods as a way to reward behaviors without compromising health.
For parents with busy schedules, the nutritionist makes an appeal:
“Even if you have little time, it is essential to talk to your children on the weekends. Find out what they like to eat, how they have been eating, what their schedules are. This helps you to understand patterns and correct them in time.”
To ensure effective results, the nutritionist insists on the need for parents to become aware of the importance of a good diet for their children in order to better instruct the professionals who are specifically responsible for taking care of their children’s eating issues.
“Nannies or caregivers need to be informed about the types of food that children should eat, the right meal times and the necessary balance between variety and quality. It’s not just about feeding, but also about preparing the body and mind to face the world,” she commented.
The nutritionist reminds us that no food replaces another. They all have different and essential functions for the body, and the absence of any of them can compromise physical and mental development.
He also advocates for more active action by schools in promoting healthy eating. “We need to include nutritional education programs in schools. Lectures, discussion groups and activities that help children understand what they are eating and why.”
(By Rafael Langa)
