Childhood Malnutrition Worldwide

There is no more important global goal than ending hunger. More than 800 million people around the world are hungry or malnourished. A large percentage of these are children.

Childhood malnutrition is a special tragedy. It can cause brain damage that permanently impairs an individual’s capacity to achieve his or her full potential.

Food security is a need so basic that neither families nor countries can effectively tackle other challenges when they do not have enough to eat. Hunger and malnutrition must be conquered in order to make lasting progress on education, health, and environmental problems.

Americans of all political persuasions have a strong commitment to addressing hunger. For Republican and Democratic administrations alike, overcoming hunger has been a top priority. For years, the United States has been the largest supplier of food aid and the largest contributor to the U.N.’s World Food Program.

Indulging with Nutrition

We all know how important it is to follow a wonderfully healthy eating plan, for that feeling of vitality and zest for life, but all too often we fall off the wagon with that incredible indulgence that leaves us feeling rather guilty and naughty.

Well here is a healthy recipe which should whet that appetite for something scrumptious, without leaving that `low’ feeling afterwards at having let ourselves down for wanting something really different and delicious.

200g butter , softened

200g Nature’s Choice Fructose

4 free-range eggs

75g Nature’s Choice Almonds –ground finely

100g Nature’s Choice Gluten Free Self Raising Flour

250g mashed potatoes zest 3 lemons

2 tsp Nature’s Choice Baking powder

Drizzle: 5 tbsp Nature’s Choice Fructose juice of 3 lemons

Heat oven to 180°C.

Butter and line a deep, 20cm round cake tin.

Beat the fructose and butter together until light and fluffy, then gradually add the egg, beating after each addition.

Fold in the GF Self Raising Flour, almonds, cold mashed potato, lemon zest and baking powder.

Tip into the tin (or jumbo muffin tins for individual cakes) level the top, then bake for 40-45 mins or until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Turn out onto a wire rack after 10 minutes cooling.

Bring the fructose and the lemon juice to the boil and simmer for 2 minutes, then spoon over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides.

Let the cake cool completely before slicing.

Meals on Wheels provide cooked meals to those elderly people who do not have the resources to prepare meals for themselves.

Elderly Activities

To keep elderly people both mentally and physically fit, it is advisable to introduce beneficial activities which are uplifting and stimulating, keeping them busy and interested in life itself.

An idle mind is all too often a workshop of destruction, bringing with it depression, sadness and loneliness, and who wants to spend their last years feeling that life is too much of a burden, too much effort. Elderly people should be stimulated and should be able to enjoy their old age instead of wasting away fruitlessly.

We all enjoy a little free time, yes but too much of it is not a good thing, enabling us to invite incorrect thoughts into our minds.

Sometimes one can`t remember all the things that they used to remember which is quite alarming, but it really is not surprising, and of course the first thing that comes to mind is “Alzheimer`s”. We all suffer mild degrees of forgetfulness, it is quite common, especially as one gets busy and has many things to think about.

Depression, anxiety or confusion causes forgetfulness sometimes, and not always caused by chemical changes in the brain. Stress is a huge factor, which is why recreational enjoyment is so important.

Engaging in fun activities, is to grasp life and live it to the full, keeping emotionally, mentally, and physically fit. There are so many ways to indulge without having to empty one`s pockets, it just takes a little imagination.

Apart from the usual arts and crafts that are most common activities such as knitting and sewing or painting, one needs to have the old favourites in music which is so uplifting, and can be enjoyed along with most activities. Growing a small flower garden or a herb garden can give one plenty of interest. If you don`t have a garden, plant in pots, and educate yourself on the benefits of each herb that you plant. Get a salad garden going.

Some brain cell activity and speed is lost as one ages, and keeping the brain active and stimulated plays a huge roll in delaying the possible onset of some form of dementia.

Crossword puzzles are an excellent way of keeping the mind active and alert, and we should remember that those elderly who are active in both mental and physical activities have a far better quality of life, and live longer.

Depending on one`s physical condition and limitations, physical activity such as walking, swimming, and playing table tennis is a wonderful way of stimulating the adrenaline.

Make it your business to love life, to be a pleasure to your friends and family - It all boils down to staying active, involved, eating well and indulging in plenty of suitable exercise.

Meals on Wheels provide the elderly with cooked meals when they are unable to fend for themselves.

Life After Retirement

Does one simply wake up one morning and say – I am retired – I am tired – twice tired - I`ll spend my day in bed. I don`t think so!! This is a time that most look forward to, to do the things that they haven`t had the time for in many years.

Yes, there may be a short time when one feels kind of lost at the thought of not having to go to work, something that has been a way of life for so long – it is quite natural, but that is the time to be on the go and have some enjoyment planned.

Remember that being at home and not having to answer to others requires a certain amount of discipline, it`s too easy to say – i`ll start tomorrow. Don`t put it off, record your `start’ date and ensure that this is what you abide by.

Too many people die within a year of their retirement, the reasons being that they feel that they are worn out as an individual, which is often caused by phsycological trauma. We can prevent this happening by simply enjoying what we have and being thankful for life itself. Take this period of your life and make it worth living, to explore new and exciting things.

Physical activity is the best way of getting the adrenaline active and enables one to feel the zest for life. I am not saying that you now have to make up for all the exercise in one week that you lacked in the last twenty years! Please, no! Get started with walking, join a club or exercise class, take the stairs, slowly at first, instead of the elevator. Use your imagination, there are plenty of ways to be inventive. Perhaps you always wanted to play golf, or try your hand at painting, now is the time to really enjoy learning those skills at your leisure.

Go out and meet up with friends that you`ve missed out on, perhaps with important events, plan outings with them, they are perhaps feeling lonely. Organise a game of golf. Organising requires a bit of effort of your part, but it`s well worth it. Friends may need more than a little nudging, but persevere.

Start a herb garden, and educate yourself on the benefits of each herb. If you don`t have a garden, herbs grow very well in pots. Growing a few salads can also be very rewarding. Likewise with a flower garden, there is a lot to learn about how to tend to the plants, when they should be clipped, how and when they should be watered etc.

It`s never too late to learn something new, and don`t surrender yourself to `old age’. What is old age – it`s when you have given up. Fulfill all your life`s desires, take up with a dance class and show the world around you that you are not ready to throw in the towel.

Take life, embrace it, love it, and be a pleasure to your family and friends.

For those who cannot fend for themselves, Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious cooked meals to the elderly.

Respect for the Elderly in Modern Society

All too often we are inclined to think that “old people” are a nuisance, they are no longer functional, and don`t understand what is going on around them.

Yes, most of them may have fallen a bit behind when it comes to technology, but they certainly have a host of experience in this world, and we need to just stop and listen sometimes because we must remember that they are the ones that have gone before us and paved the way and are the backbone of the society we live in today.

People are living to a good age these days and the elderly are no different to the younger people, they still need to live their lives with enjoyment, socially, and emotionally and if they are still active, should be doing as much as possible to live a fulfilling life.

Instead seniors are often made to feel useless, or they are ignored most of the time. This is the one time in their lives where they are free to do the things they enjoy, so it would be unfair to hold them back in any way, and to tell them how to live. If they enjoy reasonably good health mentally and physically our responsibility towards them ends at making sure that they are safe, that they have all that they need in the way of comfort, nutritious food, and that they are enjoying life. There is so little time these days for one to actually feel free of stress and worries, and to be able to do the things that really make one happy.

What a pleasure to reach the Senior Years in good health and to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. This is why it is so important to keep active and exercise regularly and enjoy healthy nutritious meals that help to ward off some of the ills of old age or merely slowing down generally for as long as possible.

It is never too late to start looking after ourselves and to start taking nutrition seriously. One should have regular check ups, eat well balanced meals, being careful of the animal fats, and other colesterol producing foods, eat plenty of vegetables, especially the dark green leafy ones, and fresh fruits. Fruit and vegetables should be eaten as raw as possible, so plenty of salads is a good way of getting plenty of vitamins. Stay away from too much sugar and alcohol, and if you are not one to exercise, at least take a walk as often as possible, or do creative movements whilst listening to your favourite music, making it as much fun as you can. It is important to enjoy the exercise that you do, and this helps to relieve any stress and tension and keeps the joints supple.

Meals on Wheels are committed to helping seniors with nutrition by providing them with cooked meals.

Good Nutrition for Seniors

As we age certain obstacles arise which sometimes affect the way we eat, and with certain health and emotional issues, and not quite the same zest for life, we are inclined to neglect the importance of healthy nutrition. The metabolism starts to slow down at the age of forty, and unwanted and unhealthy weight gain can be experienced.

As we age so does the activity level drop, that along with a less functional metabolism, calories are not burned as efficiently as in earlier years.

On the other hand one`s appetite and taste as well as sense of smell diminishes as the years follow and one could experience loss of appetite.

One creates less saliva and stomach acid due to changes in the digestive system, which makes it more difficult for the body to process certain minerals and vitamins which are necessary for mental health and circulation.

Eating well in your Senior Years should be a priority :

One should eat fresh fruit and vegetables, some of which should be eaten raw to provide you with vitamins and minerals, fibre and enzymes to aid digestion.

A source of good carbohydrates like whole wheat bread, brown rice and rolled oats should be consumed as opposed to refined white bread and rice etc.

When vegetables are steamed or lightly sauted it is the best way to preserve the nutrients.

Protein should be lean, which includes turkey or chicken without the skin, grilled or baked fish, eggs, beans, peas, nuts and tofu. Red meats should be eaten in moderation as they contain saturated fat, and salty meats such as bacon should be avoided as much as possible.

We should remember that healthy eating need not be rigid, we all go off course sometimes, and one does not have to be perfect, but moderation and balance is the key. Even if you work slowly towards setting yourself up for a successful way of eating, rather than making a dramatic change all at once. Plan ahead, and educate yourself on how to eat and embark on the journey to preventing illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, alzheimers`s and watch how your energy levels improve and how much better you will feel for it. It certainly is worth the effort, and if you adopt the right attitude towards good eating patterns, it can become a rather interesting and exciting project.

No matter what your age, you can gradually make small changes to your diet and work towards reaping long term rewards. Allow yourself to have the foods you enjoy, with the occasional off-course treat.

Meals on Wheels provide for seniors who do not have the resources to cook for themselves.

Challenges for the elderly

Older people are often presented with so many daunting challenges, especially those who are experiencing some sort of disadvantages, perhaps even health-wise, and they often feel that these golden years should be a time for celebration, something they have looked forward to all their lives. They feel that it should be a time when they have no family responsibilities and can do the things they have always wanted to do but didn`t have the time.

Unfortunately older people often feel that they are ignored, and they face challenges such as not being able to get around with transport systems not being frequent enough or even safe enough. They feel that they would like to be treated with more respect and have their voices heard. All too often they are ignored as people who have had their share. They also feel that they would like to enjoy plenty of entertainment, and be able to learn new hobbies.

There are retirement villages which provide transport, entertainment, fun and a healthy lifestyle, but it is not everyone who can afford to live in these villages, and although they might have independent living, cannot always take advantage of what is on offer out there in the way of enjoyment.

People are living longer than ever before, and even many of those who provided well for their old age have found that with the rise in costs and extended years of living, there is just not enough to go round.

Many older adults develop mental or physical disorders which will eventually cause them to require extra or outside, professional help.

Those adults who are moving into the elderly age group have probably had fewer children, which presents a problem of having fewer individuals to take on the caregiving role. The divorce rate has also had an impact, as there are fewer families who are staying together, and as it is usually the woman in the home who becomes caregiver, she may not be in a position to take care of an elder. The woman may also be approaching old age and have concerns as to how she will manage.

There are many caregivers who themselves are over the age of sixty five, and these women are often known as the “hidden victims” of caregiving because of their advanced age, and yet having the added strain of having to care for another.

Meals on Wheels care for the elderly by providing them with cooked meals when they do not have the resources to provide for themselves. Visit them on www.mowglobal.org

Looking to Help Others

It is quite remarkable that Meals on Wheels has been in operation since 1939. This fact in itself speaks volumes, the fact that it is managed efficiently and effectively. They have touched the lives of countless people in many cities and rural areas and in various countries.

Hunger is an issue that most people cannot even imagine, having perhaps for whatever reason maybe skipped one or two meals at the most in any given day, but to go longer than that and all too often, without a cooked meal is something most of us cannot comprehend.

There are so many tragic stories of struggling seniors, perhaps having to single-handedly look after their own orphaned grandchildren and without the resources to provide good nutrition, this responsibility can be daunting to say the least. It is during these times especially that nutrition is so important, because grief and sorrow together with poor nourishment can have disastrous effects on health.

Meals on Wheels recognise situations like this and have warm hearted volunteers who selflessly give their time to those in need. What a comfort to be able to turn to an organisation like Meals on Wheels for support.

Each individual`s situation is assessed and dealt with accordingly. Those who can afford to pay, do so at a minimal fee, and of course for those who do not have the resources, the meals are provided free of charge.

It is amazing to see how people look forward not only to receiving their meals, but to have the interaction with friendly volunteers who have built up quite a friendship with the regular recipients.

Perhaps you are in need of the services that Meals on Wheels can provide, or perhaps you would like to support struggling Senior Citizens on a monthly basis. You may sponsor as many meals each month as your budget will allow – for as little as R15.00 per meal. The meals are cooked and delivered by the voluntary helpers. Remember that collectively each donation makes a huge difference in many peoples lives.

Nutrition is so important, to help ward off illnesses and also when fighting or recovering from any illness, which in fact leaves us with – at all times.

Saving Our Children

Hunger and obesity. It might seem odd to find these epidemics mentioned together, but they are two of the greatest threats to the health of America's children and the future of our nation.

And Congress is running out of time to do something about it.
Childhood hunger and obesity are problems known all too well in my home state of Arkansas. A recent Feeding America report found our state to have the highest rate of childhood hunger in the country at nearly 25 percent. That's one in four children living in hunger.

Another report found 20 percent of Arkansas children to be obese, the seventh highest rate in the country.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, I have authored the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which addresses these two threats by making strong improvements to our federal child nutrition programs. Funding authorization for these programs expires in 78 days.

Children who are hungry or obese will face learning challenges and lifelong health problems. And their poor health will add significant cost to our health care system and a significant cost to our nation's future economic security.

Fortunately, hunger is a disease for which we have the cure. And we know healthier meals are part of the solution to reverse the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

But time is running out, and current programs expire on September 30. If we fail to enact this critically-needed legislation, we will have to expand current law and our children will be forced to live with the status quo. That's why I hope you will take action now. Washington's leaders need to know that you stand behind our nation's greatest blessings, our children.

My counterpart in the House of Representatives, Congressman George Miller, and I have sent a letter to President Obama urging him to make child nutrition reauthorization a top priority of his Administration over the next two months. You can help by adding your name to this letter on behalf of our children and our future.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 unanimously passed my committee earlier this year and is completely paid for. It is a common sense solution that provides additional resources to help our schools serve healthier meals. For the first time in nearly 40 years, Congress would provide an increase in the reimbursement rate for schools that agree to serve healthier lunches. I have spoken to dozens of Arkansas school food professionals who tell me these additional funds are desperately needed.

For the first time ever, the Secretary of Agriculture would have the authority to establish national nutrition standards for all food sold at schools. This will mean that healthier, more nutritious foods will be more widely available throughout the school campus. For parents, they can be more comfortable knowing that less nutritious options will be reduced. My bill also reduces the bureaucratic red tape that inhibits families from receiving the school meals for which they are eligible.

Nationwide, over 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program each day, including more than 350,000 Arkansas children. More than 10 million children participate in the breakfast program, 18,000 of them in Arkansas. We have a real opportunity to improve access and food quality in these and other life-sustaining programs.

A bipartisan majority of Senators and House members are already on record supporting reauthorization of our child nutrition programs. We must not squander this historic opportunity to make strong improvements to our child nutrition programs that will put us on a path toward ending childhood hunger and reversing the trend of childhood obesity.

Congress has 78 days to send a robust child nutrition bill to the President to avoid another extension of current law. By taking action now and adding your name to our letter today, you can show that you're standing with our children. It's for their future, and for our own future.