Grade 5 Home Science Foods And Nutriation β Nutritional Deficiency And Disorders Notes
Home Science: Foods and Nutrition
Subtopic: Nutritional Deficiency and Disorders (Age 10, Kenya)
A nutritional deficiency happens when the body does not get enough of an important vitamin, mineral or protein. This can make a child feel tired, get sick more often, or grow slowly.
Common deficiencies and disorders
- Causes: Not enough iron in food, worms, or illness.
- Signs: Feeling tired, pale skin, weak, bored in class.
- Good foods: Beans (maharagwe), green leafy vegetables (sukuma wiki), red meat, liver, eggs, sardines, fortified cereals.
- Tip: Eat vitamin C foods (like oranges, tomatoes) with iron foods to help the body use iron better.
- Causes: Not enough foods rich in vitamin A.
- Signs: Night blindness (difficulty seeing at night), dry eyes, getting infections easily.
- Good foods: Orange sweet potatoes, carrots, mangoes, papaya, eggs, milk, dark green leaves.
- Note: Kenya runs vitamin A supplement days for young children β health workers help with this.
- Causes: Not using iodized salt or not eating fish/sea foods.
- Signs: Swelling in the neck (goitre), trouble learning for children.
- Good foods: Iodized salt, fish, sea foods, milk.
- Tip: Always buy and use iodized salt at home.
- Causes: Not enough food for a long time or not enough protein.
- Signs:
- Kwashiorkor: Swollen belly, puffy face, skin problems.
- Marasmus: Very thin, little energy, looks very small for age.
- Good foods: Milk, eggs, beans, peas, meat, fish, groundnuts (peanuts), soy, porridge with milk.
- Action: Children with these signs must see a health worker quickly.
- Causes: Not enough sunlight or not enough vitamin D in food.
- Signs: Weak or soft bones, bowed legs.
- Good sources: Sunlight (short play outside in the morning), milk, eggs, fish.
- Causes: Not enough fresh fruits or vegetables.
- Signs: Bleeding gums, tiredness, slow healing of cuts.
- Good foods: Oranges, lemons, guava, mango, tomatoes, green peppers.
How to prevent deficiencies (Easy tips)
- Eat different foods every day: maize/ugali, beans, milk, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and small amounts of meat or fish. π½οΈ
- Use iodized salt when cooking. π§
- Wash vegetables and fruit, and eat some raw fruit for vitamin C. π
- Play outside daily for sunlight (sun helps make vitamin D). βοΈ
- Take medicine or supplements only when a health worker tells you. Many children in Kenya get vitamin A supplements at clinics or schools.
- Keep clean and deworm regularly (worms can cause low iron). Ask a parent or teacher about school deworming days.
Examples of healthy Kenyan meals
Poridge (uji) with milk, one boiled egg, banana. π₯£π₯π
Ugali, sukuma wiki (kale), grilled fish or beans, tomatoes. ππ₯¬π
Mango or avocado slices, roasted groundnuts. π₯π₯
Quick checklist for parents and children
- Do we use iodized salt? β
- Is there milk, eggs or beans at least once a day? β
- Do children play outside daily? β
- Are fruits and vegetables part of meals? β
If a child is very tired, very thin, has swelling in the belly, has trouble seeing at night, or bleeds from gums, see a clinic or health worker quickly. These can be signs of serious deficiency.
Fun activity (class or at home)
- Draw a plate and divide it into 4 parts. Fill with Kenyan foods: ugali (carbs), beans/fish (protein), sukuma wiki & tomatoes (vegetables), mango/banana (fruit).
- Write one food that gives vitamin A, one that gives iron, and one that gives vitamin C. Share with your class.
1) Eating oranges with beans helps the body use iron better. (True)
2) Iodized salt prevents goitre. (True)
3) Only meat gives vitamin A. (False β fruits and vegetables also give vitamin A)
Notes: These are school notes for children. For any health problem, always ask a nurse, doctor or parent.