A PLAN to provide nutritious refreshments to KG students is being implemented in all schools twice a month, starting this January. The initiative aims to raise students’ aware­ness of the three groups of nutritious foods and their importance. Officials provide meals with the necessary calories for students.

Nutrition plays a key role in the physical and mental growth of individuals, contributing to their overall strength. When measuring a country’s development, various indices include the nutritional status of its people. Childhood malnutrition significantly impacts physical and mental development throughout life and has negative consequences for the state. Therefore, it is essential for children to consume foods that support physical growth, build strength, and enhance immunity against diseases.

Malnutrition among children has been a signifi­cant challenge in Myanmar’s health sector for many years. Despite food security at the national level, the country faces food insecurity among families of people with limited knowledge about nutrition and the impacts of infectious dis­ease outbreaks. Malnutrition can weaken physical immu­nity, while infectious disease outbreaks, poor mental de­velopment, worsening health conditions, and declining liv­ing standards can threaten people’s lives.

Although malnutrition is often linked to poverty and the consumption of unhealthy food supplies, individuals may also suffer from the impacts of these problems due to insuffi­cient food intake or inadequate nutrition. Malnutrition can result from avoiding certain foods, consuming only small amounts of preferred foods, or not eating disliked foods. This selective eating can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients.

In Myanmar, relevant government departments arrange for the supply of nutritious food to children, while well-wishers occa­sionally provide nutritious meals as charity feasts to help meet people’s food needs as an act of merit. This reflects the vibrant social culture of Myanmar. Meanwhile, government officials and organizations distribute social pensions to the elderly to support their access to nutritious food and also provide nutritious meals to schoolchildren. Moreover, relevant departments need to restrict and check the foods whether they contain nutritious ingredients, follow regulations for nutritious food supplies and take action against offenders who fail to produce nutritious foods.

If the plan to serve nutritious food to children is successfully implemented, future generations will have improved physical and mental health, enhancing their critical thinking skills. As a result, the quality and reliability of human resources will increase, con­tributing to the development of a modern, advanced nation. Indeed, nurturing students at the primary level with supplies of nutritious foods and healthy youths will be reliable for the State in the future.