Are Filipino children losing their nutritional future?

MANILA, Philippines - It’s the same old story: Mommy prepares veggies; the child says no. Mommy chases, cajoles, and pleads; the child cries, and finally mommy relents and prepares … hotdogs. 

Children worldwide are increasingly turning into picky eaters. In fact, a 2009 TNS Global Market Research survey reveals that 53 percent of Filipino mothers consider their children as picky eaters. And, heads up, there’s so much more to picky eating than just craving hotdogs or fried chicken — it’s a battle that may determine your child’s nutritional future.

Picky eating is a struggle that’s repeated across Filipino households nationwide. In fact, it may even be happening right now in your own home. Because of this, many parents come to rely on snacks eaten on the go, which tend to be salty, sweet, or otherwise unhealthy. At mealtimes, moms will provide “kid food,” easy-to-prepare child-pleasers like ice cream, chicken nuggets, and pizza.

And the results so far? Well, french fries have overtaken carrots and malunggay as the top vegetable for children (Time magazine, “Rethinking First Foods,” published July 11, 2006). It’s no wonder then that in the US, 26 percent of two to five-year-old kids are at risk of becoming overweight and a full 14 percent are already overweight. Some doctors have even reported that they have seen overweight babies as young as 10 months old — an instance that would have been unthinkable, say, 15 years ago. 

Aqiva from Wyeth provides the ideal caloric distribution for your child with high-quality macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that are all within RENI (Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake) levels.

Research also shows that the diets of young children may be deficient in essential vitamins and minerals. A child who refuses to eat fruits and vegetables may, in the long run, develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as anemia or vitamin A deficiency. Here in the Philippines, the Food and Nutrition Institute (FNRI) has reported that Filipino picky eaters are at risk for deficiencies in the following nutrients: vitamin A, calcium, iron, and zinc.

As parents, we only want what’s best for our children. Providing them with the proper nutrition during their formative years is very important because it will help them function better as they grow up. 

With this in mind, leading nutritionals brand Wyeth is introducing Aqiva, a powdered milk drink for children four to seven years old. Aqiva provides the ideal caloric distribution for your child with high-quality macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats present in amounts within RENI (Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake) levels.

Meanwhile, the quality of macronutrients is another area that Aqiva can be proud of. Not all fat or protein can be considered good fats or good proteins. Aqiva gets its fat from an all-vegetable source whereas its protein contains high-quality whey protein which is easily absorbed and tolerated by young children.