Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – Predictions that children who were previously immune to the threat of Covid-19 were denied when the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) mentioned more than 500 children infected with Covid-19, thousands of children with ODP status and 14 children died. This fact again triggers parents’ concerns about the threat of Covid-19 in children. For this reason, maintaining the child’s immunity must be the main concern of parents at this time, one of them through adequate nutrition for the child.
The choice of food for children becomes important considering the food substances that enter the child’s body which will determine the child’s immunity against viruses and pathogens from outside. Incorrect food and beverage intake for children at risk of children susceptible to disease due to decreased immunity and in the long run cause nutritional problems, which results in the emergence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity to reduce the quality of children in the future.
dr. Tria Atika Endah Permatasari from the Central Board of Health ‘Aisyiyah said that in the long run, children with adequate nutrition will avoid the threat stunting and malnutrition as well as being a healthy and quality human resource in the future. As we know, prevalence stunting in Indonesia 30 percent, which means 3 out of 10 Indonesian children suffer stunting.
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However, there are some tips that can be done to prevent stunting, among them are parenting, eating patterns and clean and healthy living behaviors (PHBS). Keep in mind, in the period of 1000 HPK is a period of rapid growth (Growth Spurt) which needs to fulfill balanced nutrition.
“Food choices and processing techniques must be precise so as not to reduce the nutritional value of food, such as protein denaturation, Maillard’s reaction to carbohydrates, and so on. It is also important to note the macro & micro nutrient content in food, “said dr. Tria in the PP Aisyiyah webinar with Family Nutrition recently.
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Unfortunately, continued Dr. Tria, this is still not a concern of parents. There are still many among parents who only rely on the formula of rice with side dishes and children become full. In addition, the influence of various instant food and beverage advertisements overclaim, promising practicality in presentation, economical without explaining what the substances contained in it. As a result, children are accustomed to consuming foods and drinks that are low in nutrition but high in salt and fat fat.
One product such as sweetened condensed milk or sweetened condensed which should only be used as a food topping, is still found to be consumed by children and is assumed to be milk.
Meanwhile, Dr. dr. Tubagus Rachmat Sentika SpA.MARS added sweetened condensed milk (SKM) not to be given to children both for topping and for substituting for ASI. Because of its high sugar content, sweetened thickness is not for children. Children who drink thick sweet will experience obesity and unhealthy. To provide proper education for parents, he also launched the Family Nutrition Consultation Corner.
“This Consultation Corner allows the public to consult related to child nutrition and family health online,” he concluded.
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