Messages in Nutrition Education

When a message is conveyed to a community group or individuals, the  target group receives both elements-content and presentation. In other words, the "what"  and "how" of the message. As we mentioned earlier. Blocks 3 to 5 would give you an in depth knowledge of the features of  "how" messages can  be conveyed or in what manner  they can be presented using different types of media and methods. 

For our present discussion, 'we can think of messages being either positive or negative or combining both approaches for  example. 

• AVOIDING  KESARI DAL PREVENTS PARALYSIS (Positive) 
• KESARI DAL CAN PARALYSIS YOUR LEGS (Negative) 
• EATING KESARI DAL PARALYSES THE LEGS. SO KEEP AWAY FROM IT AND KEEP HEALTHY (Positive + Negative). 

You would have to assess how the message you have in  mind could be best put across. This depends on the community with which you are working as well as the nature of the message. However, any message must be action-oriented. In other words, it should urge people to adopt a practice or to give up an existing practice. The message  should atleast clearly  suggest to people a certain cow of action. 

In the case of positive messages, it is vital to give a reason. For example, 

• EAT GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES (No reason given; limited impact) 
• EAT GREENS AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN. THIS KEEPS EYES  HEALTHY. (reason given; better impact) 

Negative messages, however, usually do  include a reason and a cause and effect relationship., For example, 

• EATING KESARI DAL CAUSES PARALYSIS 

In this case it is more important to remember to tell people clearly what to do to avoid the dangers you are highlighting. So the previous message can be reworded thus: 

• STOP EATING KEN DAL. 
• IT CAN CAUSE PARALYSIS. 

To help you select and improve important messages in nutrition education, you would find this list useful. Messages are arranged in specific categories to make it easy to locate a particular topic. The messages given are only suggestion. Can you improve on them? 

Messages linked to nutrition deficiencies 

• INCLUDE THE THREE FOOD GROUPS IN EVERY MEAL 
• GIVE FOODS RICH IN IRON TO PREGNANT WOMEN 
• EAT GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES, PREVENT BLINDNESS 
• LACTATING WOMEN AND PREGNANT WOMEN  NEED EXTRA FOOD 
• VITAMIN A IS GIVEN FREE TO PRESCHOOLERS AT  YOUR HEALTH CENTRE. ACT NOW OR YOUR CHILD MAY GO BLIND. 
• YOUR CHILD'S GROWTH CHART WILL  SHOW IF THE CHILD IS ILL OR NEEDS ATTENTION. 
• WEIGH YOUR CHILD REGULARLY 
• ENCOURAGE OLDER PEOPLE TO EAT FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 
• EATING WHOLE CEREALS AND PULSES GIVES YOU PLENTY OF B VITAMINS. 
• USE IODIZED SALT 
• PARBOILING ADDS B VITAMINS TO YOUR CEREAL 
• EAT SPROUTED PULSES. THEY GIVE YOU EXTRA VITAMIN C AT NO EXTRA COST. 
• DEHYDRATION CAN KILL. SO IF YOUR CHILD HAS DIARRHOEA, GIVE ORS OR OTHER  FLUIDS  FREQUENTLY.

Messages linked to other nutrition-related disorders 

• YOU CAN REMOVE EXTRA FLUORIDE FROM YOUR WATER AT HOME 
• STOP EATING KESARI  DAL. IF YOU CANNOT AVOID IT SOAK THE DAL IN WATER THAT'S  JUST BEEN BOILED AND SUN DRY BEFORE USING 
• EATING TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING IS BAD FOR  YOUR HEALTH. AVOID TOO MUCH FAT AND SUGAR IN YOUR DIET. 
• KEEP STRICT CONTROL OVER YOUR DIET IN DIABETES AM) HEART DISEASE. 
• ONLY YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF. EAT MODERATELY AM TAKE PLENTY OF EXERCISE. 
• TAKING TOO MUCH SALT CAN PUSH UP YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. 
• DO YOU HAVE A RELATIVE WITH DIABETES OR HEART DISEASE? IF YES, BE EXTRA CAREFUL ABOUT INTAKE OF SUGAR AND FAT. 
• AVOID SATURATED FAT. IT CAN HARM YOUR HEART. 
• DON'T  EAT TOO MUCH REFINED FOODS. EAT WHOLE CEREALS AND PULSES. THEY ARE MORE NUTRITIOUS. 
• PROCESSED FOODS CONTAIN A LOT QF CHEMICALS WHICH CAN HARM YOU. NEVER  RELY ONLY ON THEM.  USE THEM ONLY IF YOU  MUST.

Messages linked  to dietary patterns in various age  groups 

• BREAST FEED YOUR INFANT.  BREAST MILK IS THE BEST FOOD FOR YOUR BABY. 
• INTRODUCE SUPPLEMENTARY FOODS BY THE AGE OF 4-6 MONTHS. OTHERWISE YOUR BABY WILL NOT GROW WELL. 
• GIVE SUPPLEMENTARY FOODS RICH IN ENERGY, PROTEIN, IRON AND VITAMIN C.
• PRESCHOOLERS  MUST TAKE SMALL FREQUENT MEALS. 
• GIVE FOODS RICH IN ENERGY, PROTEIN, VITAMIN A AND IRON. 
• INCLUDE GOOD IRON SOURCES IN THE  OF GIRLS WHO HAVE BEGUN THEIR PERIODS. 
• PACKED LUNCHES SHOULD BE BALANCED AND COMPACT. 
• PRESCHOOLERS CANNOT HANDLE STICKY, MESSY FOODS. GIVE THEM FINGERFOODS.
• DON'T  SERVE SNACKS CLOSE TO  MEALS. THIS REDUCES APPE- TlTE AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH NUTRIENTS. 
• A FOOD SUPPLEMENT GIVEN IN A FEEDING PROGRAMME SHOULD NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR A MAIN MEAL. IT IS GIVEN AS AN ADDITION TO THE HOME DIET NOT INSTEAD OF IT. 
• BREAKFAST IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOU ACTIVE. DON'T MISS IT. 
• DON'T REDUCE FOOD INTAKE TOO MUCH. THIS IS IN MAKE YOU VERY ILL. SO IF YOU ARE OVERWEIGHT, TRY TO EAT LESS AT EACH MEAL AND EXERCISE MORE. 
• JUNK FOODS SPOIL YOUR HEALTH. SO DON'T SPEND MONEY ON THEM. 
• DON'T GIVE UP TRADITIONAL FOODS. THEY ARE USUALLY BALANCED. 
• EAT NATURAL FOODS AND FOOD COMBINATIONS. THEY WILL HELP YOU KEEP HEALTHY. 
• ENCOURAGE GOOD FOOD HABITS FROM CHILDHOOD. THE EARLIER YOU START, THE BETTER IT IS! 

Messages linked to nutrition programmes 

• PREGNANT WOMEN CAN GET IRON AND FOLIC ACID TABLETS FROM THE HEALTH CENTRE. 
• PROTECT YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH. YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL PROVIDES A MIDDAY MEAL 
• IMMUNIZE YOUR CHILD. BREAK FREE FROM THE CYCLE OF INFECTION AND MALNUTRITION. 
• SAVE YOUR CHILD'S LIFE. IMMUNIZE AGAINST DANGEROUS INFECTIONS 
• INFECTIONS LEAD TO MALNUTRITION. MALNUTRITION LEADS TO INFECTION. GOOD FOOD AND IMMUNIZATION PROTECT YOUR CHILD. 

Messages linked to maximal utilization of food  resources 

• DO YOU WANT TO GET EXTRA NUTRIENTS AT NO EXTRA COST? USE SPROUTED AND FERMENTED FOODS! 
• REDUCE NUTRIENT LOSSES BY USING JUST ENOUGH WATER WHILE COOKING. 
• PEEL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THINLY. THE MORE YOU PEEL OFF, THE MORE VALUABLE FOOD YOU THROW AWAY. 
• DON'T RELY ON PRESTIGE VALUE OF FOODS. PURCHASE FOOD ITEMS WHICH GIVE YOU MAXIMUM NUTRITION AT REASONABLE COST. 
• CULTIVATE A KITCHEN GARDEN. IT WILL  SUPPLY YOU WITH FRESH FRUITS  AND VEGETABLES AND  YOU COULD SELL THE SURPLUS TOO!