Good nutrition in the first 1000 days of life

The first 1000 days of life, are from pregnancy to when your child turns age two. It is a critical period for brain development and bodybuilding. During this time, the brain and body are rapidly developing, and good nutrition is essential for optimal health.

Why is good nutrition so important during the first 1000 days of life?

  • Brain development: The brain is developing rapidly during the first 1000 days of life. Good nutrition is essential for this development, and deficiencies in key nutrients can lead to learning problems, behavioral problems, and other long-term health problems which are permanent.
  • Physical growth: Children also grow rapidly during the first 1000 days of life. Good nutrition is essential for this growth, and deficiencies in key nutrients can lead to stunting and other long-term health problems.
  • Immune system development: The immune system is also developing rapidly during the first 1000 days of life. Good nutrition is essential for this development, and deficiencies in key nutrients can lead to increased susceptibility to infections.
    What nutrients are important during the first 1000 days of life?
    All nutrients are important during the first 1000 days of life, but some are particularly important for brain development, physical growth, and immune system development. These nutrients include:
  • Protein: Protein is essential for building and repairing tissues, including the brain and muscles.
  • Iron: Iron is essential for carrying oxygen throughout the body.
  • Zinc: Zinc is essential for cell growth and development, as well as immune function.
  • Iodine: Iodine is essential for thyroid function, which is important for brain development and growth.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain development and eye development.
  • Choline: Choline is essential for brain development and cognitive function.
  • Folate: Folate is essential for preventing birth defects and promoting healthy growth and development.
  • Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for bone health and immune function.

How to ensure good nutrition during the first 1000 days of life.

  • The best way to ensure good nutrition during the first 1000 days of life is to eat a healthy diet and take prenatal vitamins during pregnancy.
  • Exclusive Breastfeeding is also the best way to feed a baby during the first six months of life.
  • At 6 months start feeding the baby other foods and water while continuing breastfeeding. It is important to provide them with a variety of healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, animal-source foods, seeds and legumes, and healthy fats. It is also important to limit processed foods, sugary drinks, and saturated and unhealthy fats.
  • Add KOKO Plus® to foods for children aged 6 months and above. Use one sachet a day per child to support the child’s daily nutritional needs for brain development and bodybuilding.
    If you have any concerns about your child’s nutrition, talk to your healthcare provider(doctor or nurse) They can help you create a healthy eating plan for your child and ensure that they are getting all of the nutrients they need.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your child gets the good nutrition they need for optimal health and development during the first 1000 days of life.

 

Why is children’s nutrition so important?

Good nutrition is essential for children’s growth and development. It helps them to:

  • Reach their full physical and mental potential
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Boost their immune system
  • Reduce their risk of chronic diseases

What are some of the challenges of feeding children healthy foods?

There are a number of challenges that parents face when trying to feed their children healthy foods. Some of the most common include:

  • Picky eaters: Many kids are picky eaters, and it can be difficult to get them to try new foods.
  • Convenience: It can be difficult to find time to cook healthy meals, especially when you’re busy working or taking care of other children. (KOKO Plus® is convenient to use)
  • Cost: Healthy foods can be more expensive than processed foods.
  • Peer pressure: Kids are often influenced by their friends’ eating habits, and they may be more likely to eat unhealthy foods if their friends are doing the same.

How can I overcome these challenges?

You can do several things to overcome the challenges of feeding your kids healthy foods. Here are a few tips:

  • Be patient and persistent: It may take some time for your child to accept new foods. Keep offering them new foods, and don’t give up if they don’t like them right away.
  • Make healthy foods convenient: There are a number of ways to make healthy foods more convenient. For example, you can cook meals in bulk and freeze them for later, or you can buy pre-cut fruits and vegetables.
  • Add KOKO Plus® to foods for children aged 6 months and above to enrich the food with essential nutrients. KOKO Plus® is a protein and micronutrient supplement.
  • Set a good example: Children learn by watching the adults in their lives. Ensure you’re eating healthy foods and have a positive attitude towards healthy eating.
  • Talk to your child’s doctor: If you’re concerned about your child’s nutrition, talk to their doctor. They can give you personalized advice and help you develop a plan to feed your child healthy foods.

We hope this has given you a good overview of what to expect from this blog. We look forward to sharing tips and advice with you on how to feed your children healthy foods so they can grow strong, smart, and strong!

It’s all about your child’s nutrition

We know that feeding your children healthy foods can be a challenge. There are so many temptations out there, and it can be hard to keep up with all the latest research. We are here to help!
On this blog, we’ll share practical tips and advice on how to feed your children healthy foods without sacrificing taste or convenience. We’ll also cover the latest research on children’s nutrition, so you can make informed decisions about your child’s diet.
Whether you’re a new parent or a seasoned pro, we hope you’ll find something useful on this blog.

Here are some of the topics we’ll be covering:

  • Nutrition and pregnancy
  • The first 1000 days
  • How to introduce solid foods to your baby
  • Healthy snacks for kids
  • Food ideas and recipes
  • Picky eaters
  • Food allergies and intolerances
  • Childhood obesity
    And more!

We’re also open to suggestions, so please feel free to leave comments or email us your questions and requests. We are here to help you feed your children healthy and delicious meals!

Japan supports WFP to scale up nutrition programme in Ghana

ACCRA–The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a contribution of US$5 million from the Government of Japan which will enable the scale-up of an important programme addressing undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity in Ghana.

“We’re extremely grateful for Japan’s generous donation which will allow more pregnant and nursing women, children, and adolescent girls to access nutritious foods,” said Rukia Yacoub, WFP Representative and Country Director in Ghana. “In 2019, we’ll expand the programme from the Northern Region where it is currently implemented to the Ashanti Region which also has high numbers of stunted children.”

Women without sufficient means will receive electronic commodity vouchers for locally- produced special blends of maize and soya beans mixed with vitamins and minerals. Children will receive special food supplements produced in Ghana including one developed by a Japanese private company. 

Ghana’s Northern Region has the highest rate of stunting in the country; one in three children is stunted compared with the national average of one in five. The Ashanti Region has the second highest number of stunted children nationwide. 

Stunting is caused mainly by insufficient nutrition and care during the crucial first 1,000 days of life and often leads to impaired physical and cognitive development which in turn diminishes productivity and earning capacity in later life. 

According to the Cost of Hunger in Africa study, Ghana loses 6.4 percent of its GDP each year, estimated at GHC4.6 billion (US$2.6 billion) in 2012, because of costs associated with child undernutrition. 

The United Nations World Food Programme – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.

Source: wfp.org

Development and Sensory Shelf-Life Testing of KOKO Plus: A Food Supplement for Improving the Nutritional Profiles of Traditional Complementary Foods

Abstract

Background: Providing nutritionally adequate complementary foods is essential in preventing malnutrition in young infants. Koko made from fermented corn dough constitutes the most common complementary food in Ghana. However, these do not meet the nutrient requirements.

Objective: To develop and test the acceptability and shelf-life of an energy-dense complementary food supplement for improving the nutritional profile of traditional complementary foods.

Methods: Surveys of families in urban and rural communities and stakeholder engagements with health professionals were done to identify the most predominant traditional complementary foods and young infants’ feeding practices. A food supplement, KOKO Plus, that would improve the nutritional profile of koko and other complementary foods needed to be developed. Linear programming was used in ingredient formulations for the food supplement based on locally available foods. The acceptability of the food supplement, KOKO Plus, in koko and soup was assessed using 14 trained assessors in a 2 × 2 crossover design. Shelf-life of the product was estimated using the difference in control sensory test method at different storage temperatures (24°C, 34°C, and 44°C).

Results: Koko was the most predominant complementary food in many homes. The KOKO Plus food supplement improved the nutritional profile of koko to satisfy the nutrient intake requirements of young infants as recommended by World Health Organization. KOKO Plus was microbiologically safe, with estimated shelf-life of more than 12 months.

Conclusion: The development of KOKO Plus as a food supplement provides a practical solution to improve the nutritional status of weaning children in Ghana.

Keywords: complementary food supplement; koko; sensory tests; shelf-life.

Effect of the provision of a macro‐ and micro‐nutrient fortified complementary food supplement on nutritional status of Ghanaian infants

Abstract

Background

Only 13% of Ghanaian infants 6–23 months have a minimum acceptable diet. The study examined the effect of a macro‐ and micro‐nutrient fortified complementary food supplement (KokoPlus™) on growth and nutritional status of Ghanaian infants.

Methods

In a cluster randomized study, 38 communities were randomly assigned to three arms: KokoPlus™ and nutrition education (KP), Micronutrient powder and nutrition education (MN) and Nutrition education alone (NE) (n=301 infants/group). KP and MN received the same micronutrient dosage. Supplements were to be delivered weekly with instructions to use one sachet daily. Monthly nutrition education sessions included recipe demonstration and emphasized breastfeeding, complementary feeding and WASH practices. Baseline (B), midline (M) and endline (E) data collected at 6, 12 months and 18 months of age respectively. Research protocol included a venous blood draw, dietary assessment, SE status, morbidity, WASH and food security at B, M and E, monthly anthropometry assessments and weekly morbidity assessment and compliance with protocol. Length for age (LAZ), Weight for age (WAZ) and Weight for height (WLZ) Z‐scores were computed using the 2006 WHO‐MGRS growth reference. Serum hemoglobin, retinol binding protein, ferritin, zinc, C‐reactive protein and alpha glycoprotein, IGF‐1 and cortisol were assessed. Iron markers were corrected for infection. Analysis was intent to treat and included post hoc compliance modeling with mixed effects linear regressions adjusting for community clustering, age, baseline outcome measure, maternal height or maternal BMI.

Results

Mean LAZ scores at B time point were −0.74 ±1.02, −0.74 ±0.97 and −0.64 ±1.01 and E time point were −1.219 ± 0.06, 1.211 ± 0.03, and −1.266 ± 0.03 in groups KP, MN and NE respectively. At E, serum hemoglobin was significantly higher in the KP (114.02 ± 1.87 g/L) than MN (107.8 ± 2.5 g/L) or NE (108.8 ± 0.99 g/L) correcting for acute infection. Compliance (% of delivered supplement consumed) for KP and MN were 86.2% and 88.4% respectively; however, only 60% of supplement delivery was achieved. Post hoc modeling showed significant associations between higher supplement consumption with LAZ gain and serum zinc levels in KP, but not MN, indicating potential effects of KP masked by incomplete supplement delivery.

Conclusions

A macronutrient‐micronutrient fortified complementary food supplement significantly improved hemoglobin in infants with no acute infection but showed no significant difference in LAZ scores. Modeling using intended delivery rates and observed compliance shows significant improvement in LAZ and serum zinc implying a dose response effect of the intervention. Further work optimizing delivery and uptake of this intervention is required to validate this finding.

Support or Funding Information

This study was supported by Ajinomoto Inc and JICA.