Make Healthy Food a Habit to Build a Stronger Society: Minister U.T. Khader
Mangaluru: Emphasising that “our health is in our hands,” Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader urged people to take responsibility for their health by making necessary changes to their dietary habits and lifestyle.
“By developing the habit of consuming nutritious and health-promoting food, we can build a healthier society,” he said.
Khader was speaking after inaugurating a Nutrition Month programme organised under the Poshan Abhiyaan at Ambedkar Bhavan in the city on Saturday. The programme was organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Department of Women and Child Development, Mangaluru Rural Child Development Project and the Department of AYUSH.
“In today’s lifestyle, people tend to give greater importance to food that appeals to the palate. We must understand that food is not merely for taste but also for health. Greater emphasis should be placed on consuming food that provides the nutrients required by the body,” he said.
He called upon people to adopt nutritious diets to build healthy families and a stronger society.
The Minister particularly stressed the importance of nutritious food during the growing years of children and urged mothers to inculcate healthy eating habits in their children from an early age.
State Minimum Wages Advisory Board Chairman T.M. Shahid Thekkil, Karnataka State Eco-Tourism Development Board Chairperson Shalet Laveena Pinto, District Programme Officer Rashmi K., and District AYUSH Department Senior Medical Officer Dr Hemavani, among others, were present.
Deputy Director of the Department of Women and Child Development Sridhar N. welcomed the gathering, while Development Inspector of the Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation Chandrika compered the programme.
As part of the programme, a Seemantha ceremony was held for pregnant women and an Annaprashana ceremony was conducted for children. Chyawanprash was also distributed to malnourished and moderately malnourished children.