Stress on girls’ nutrition at awareness meet

Adolescence, being a period when physical changes affect the body’s nutritional needs, proper food and lifestyle play a very important role when girls are concerned, said Project Coordinator, India for Eco Food campaign Dr Jagatabandhu Mohapatra.

Mohapatra, 9who is also a consultant of Indian System of Medicines and Public Health Nutritionist, was addressing an awareness programme organised in city-based orphanage Palli Unnayan Seva Samiti (PUSS) that houses widows, destitute, abuse victims and orphan girls.

Dr Mohapatra shed light on the importance of dietary fat during adolescence; protein needs for growth and maintenance of muscle; the need of iron for transporting oxygen in the bloodstream.

While a deficiency of iron causes anaemia, which leads to fatigue, confusion, and weakness, adequate calcium intake is also very important during the period for development of dense bone mass.

He explained on the requirement of micronutrients like zinc during adolescence. He also discussed in details the adverse impacts of junk food, fast food, street food and food like maida.

It is high time, the society took all possible measures to ensure proper nutrition of adolescent girls, he maintained.

Coordinator, India for Eco Food campaign Abhishek Dwivedy discussed about the initiatives taken in promoting safe and organic food and its endeavour to meet the nutritional requirements of the adolescent girls.

 PUSS secretary Swati Suchismita Patra proposed a vote of thanks.