Causes of abnormal nutrition
- Infections and diseases.
- Ignorance about nutrition.
- Seasonal changes and lack of food production.
- Unequal distribution of food.
Guidelines to a good practical feeding
- Introduce foods one by one. This enables detection of allergy.
- Start with a small quantity and gradually increase the amount in time.
- Start with liquid food and gradually increase the consistency
- Respect the baby dislikes
- Food should not have spices
- Cost – use the locally available foods which are cost-effective.
- Start with carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables for the first months. Then introduces protein later (at 9 months) to give the baby time to develop the ways of excreting the toxic by-products of protein
- Be friendly when feeding the infant
- Give variety of foods- to provide enough energy and nutrients metabolism
Management of underweight
- Increase calories in the diet by increasing the amount of energy foods.
- The best way to increase the calorie intake of a young child is to increase the frequency of meals. Children less than 2 years old should eat at least 3 times and preferably 4 or 5 times a day.
- Protect the child from infection by immunization, prophylaxis against malaria, treatment of intestinal parasites and advice to the mother on hygienic food preparation
- Weigh the child regularly and encourage the mother by showing her the child’s growth curve moving upwards along the normal weight for age path on the growth chart.
- Recommend a mixed diet.
Visit or call us through 0715543384 for more information and treatment. We also have nutritional supplements for those who are malnourished