The reform to the Law on the rights of children and adolescents, which prohibits the sale, distribution and supply of sugary drinks and foods with high caloric content, approved by the 64th Legislature a few days ago, is only a small ‘bite’ towards a healthier future diet, considered the Nutritionist and diabetes educator, Monserrat Merlo Díaz.
In an interview with EL IMPARCIAL, the specialist said that this is a step towards a correct food education in the entity, which must start from home.
“The problem is not that a child can buy or not a candy, because children do not work or earn money. The problem is the parents’ lack of awareness, that is, teaching their children to consume a type of craving or candy once or twice a week, and on the other days take care of what they eat ”, she commented.
“Some other infants living on the street lack food orientation, parents, a refrigerator, a stove and that is where I ask myself, ‘what will those children eat when cleaning windshields’, they only earn a few pesos and what they buy is bread or a cookie.
“What I would like is for the government to create cooperatives or children’s kitchens, where if those children spend 10 pesos on some candy, they can change their 10 pesos on a soup, a cake or a more nutritious food, that would be applauded” , he expressed by telephone.
Small achievement
Despite the controversies about the reform of the Law, the nutritionist was happy because he turned to food education.
“I like the idea, because you have to start with something, since it represents a good alternative that benefits public health,” he admitted.
Once this decision has been made, the most important thing now is to train parents with nutritionists, to guide them and promote better habits on the subject.
Impressive savings
Returning to the issue of public health, the educator also assured that “food is not a reward or a punishment, is the medicine of the future, since with it we can prevent, control or avoid different diseases “.
The different ailments that can be avoided with a correct diet are obesity, which is already considered a disease, diabetes and all the complications that derive from it such as blindness, amputation, dialysis, hemodialysis, hypertension and cholesterol problems,
Sport and nutrition
A dose of sport must be added to this correct diet.
“Exercise is essential for adequate oxygenation and strengthening the muscles, it is the ideal complement to have healthier children, youth and adults,” added Monserrat Merlo.
The ideal combination is 30 percent physical activity, plus 70 percent of nutritional care.
“If we mix exercise and food we would have a healthy society. The ideal is to go out and activate two or three days a week for better circulation and oxygenation, ”he added.
Before concluding the talk, the nutritionist pointed out that this issue should be followed up, especially at a time when we are facing a pandemic that is showing how important health is.
Finally, he meditated that with these measures taken we will return to the times of before, where fruit was put on piñatas and carrying some fruit in the bags in case our children are hungry.
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