How to Make Children’s Diets Healthier and More Sustainable

Child nutrition has improved overall in recent decades. However, reductions in stunting and wasting have been offset by a rise in childhood obesity, making the diets of most children in most countries inadequate. Overlapping malnutrition issues are particularly prevalent in poorer communities. Climate change also threatens food security, therefore alongside changes in food systems and a multi-sectoral approach, early interventions are recommended. These include pushing for breastfeeding which has health benefits for the mother and child, and a shift to a plant-rich diet which not only contributes to proper nutrition but is also more sustainable.