As parents, you will be faced with many challenges in bringing up a healthy child who will have
all the opportunities you have never had yourself. However, most parents seem to place great
emphasis on academic opportunities or performance with many neglecting an equally critical
aspect – that nutrition as it will affect their child’s current/future health and even his mental/
physical development.
A significant point to keep in mind is the importance of inculcating healthy lifestyle habits into
your child’s routine when he is still young. By exposing him to a healthy habit/lifestyle, it also
makes it more likely that he will follow these practices when he grows up, thus minimising the
chances for him to develop NCDs in later life.
The 1000-day window of opportunity is unique and if you miss it, there is no catching up or
making up for lost time. By providing him proper nutrition from the very start, you are giving him
the opportunity to maximise his potential, and also to lower his risk of NCDs in his later years.
With the rising costs of healthcare and the increasing numbers of Malaysians who have NCDs
such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, it just makes sense to do what you can
to give your child a head-start in life.
So make it a priority!
This article is a continuation of our Nutrition in the First 1000 Days” article.
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