Editorial 1: Teaching children to eat well must begin in school

Context

Food literacy is now a necessity; the emphasis should move from merely feeding children to teaching them how to eat nutritiously.

Introduction

Last month, world leaders convened in Paris for the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit. During this event, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) also declared the extension of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition, originally set for 2016-2025, to 2030. This extension aims to maintain global momentum in ending all forms of malnutrition and to better align efforts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Shifting Focus in Global Nutrition Efforts

• A turning point in nutrition to shift focus from food access to understanding what, how, and why people eat.
• Nutrition is linked to education, equity, and environmental sustainability.
• Efforts have focused on the first 1,000 days, but the next 4,000 days are equally important.
• Adolescent growth offers a second chance to address early childhood nutrition deficits.
• Shift from feeding children to teaching them how to eat well.
• The Paris summit side event highlighted the need for food and nutrition education in schools to support healthy choices.

Challenges in Children's Food Choices Today

• Children are growing up in a world where food is easily accessible — ordered with a tap, delivered, and heavily marketed.
• Choosing what to eat has become increasingly complex.
• Most children lack the knowledge and skills to make healthy choices.
• Diets are shaped more by habits, peer influence, or advertising than by nutrition or tradition.
• Many children skip breakfast, eat too few fruits and vegetables, and consume excessive sugar and processed foods.

Importance of dietary diversity

• Dietary Diversity: A key issue is the lack of variety in children's diets, which is crucial for obtaining all necessary nutrients. The UN has adopted Minimum Dietary Diversity as a global indicator under SDG 2 (End Hunger), asking if a child ate at least five of 10 food groups in the last 24 hours.
• Current Situation: In many places, including cities and villages in India, most children’s diets lack variety, leading to poor health and reflecting deeper issues in food systems and education.
• Health Consequences: Poor diets are linked to malnutrition, childhood obesity, chronic diseases like diabetes, and mental health issues. Research shows nearly 70% of preventable adult diseases are linked to habits formed in childhood, especially eating habits.
• The Need for Early Intervention: To address this, food and nutrition education must start early, and schools are the best place to establish healthy eating habits.
• Lack of Education: Food and nutrition education is often absent, outdated, or not connected to real life in most classrooms. Teachers frequently lack the necessary training and resources to teach it effectively.
• Need for a Structured Curriculum: A structured, age-appropriate curriculum should go beyond food groups and include lifestyle habits and environmental awareness, starting at preschool and evolving with the child.
• Curriculum Content: The curriculum should teach about the human body, the importance of diverse diets, and the impact of food systems on the environment.
• Promoting Bio-diverse Diets: A central focus should be promoting bio-diverse diets, which include local, seasonal, and culturally familiar foods, supporting better nutrition, local farmers, reducing environmental impact, and preserving traditional food knowledge.

It must be a part of school life

Conclusion

Children should be seen as learners and influencers. With the right knowledge, they can impact their families, friends, and communities—advocating for better meals, reducing food waste, and promoting healthy eating. Learning to eat well is about caring for health, respecting the planet, and becoming responsible citizens. In a world facing under-nutrition, overconsumption, climate change, and cultural loss, food literacy is essential. To raise a healthier, more compassionate generation, we must make food education a part of every child’s learning—starting today.