1. NUTRITION AND YOUNG
PEOPLE

2. UNIT OBJECTIVES
• Explain the importance good nutrition
• Describe the 6 groups of food necessary for
good nutrition
• Explain the linkage between nutrition and HIV
• Discuss the consequences of poor nutrition
among adolescents and young people
• Identify and discuss how you would promote
good nutrition among young people

3. IMPORTANCE OF GOOD
NUTRITION
Definition:
• Food is anything that a person eats or drinks.
• It is from this food that we get nutrients.
Nutrients are necessary for life and our health.
• Good nutrition means that the foods and
drinks you are eating are providing you with
the nutrients you need for life and health.

4. Importance of Good Nutrition
Maintaining good health
• Healthy eating or good nutrition contributes
to overall growth and development
• This includes healthy bones, skin, lowered risk
of dental caries, eating disorders,
constipation, malnutrition and also iron
deficiency
• Good nutrition maintains energy levels,
immunity, good development of body cells
and keeps people in good shapes.

5. Importance cont…
Prevention from infections
• Good nutrition prevents us from infections and
such keeps our immunity strong
• The food we eat contains vitamins, proteins that
help in building and keeping our immunity
strong.
• Poor nutrition facilitates risk to development of
infections that will take advantage of the body
being weak due to inadequate intake of certain
foods

6. GROUPS OF FOOD NECESSARY FOR GOOD NUTRITION
The 6 groups of food necessary for good nutrition
(Malawi balanced diet)
Group main nutrient Examples of food Their role in the
body
vegetables Vitamins and Greens: Bonongwe, chisoso, luni •Fights infection
minerals Fruits: Pumpkin, tomatoes,
peppers
Roots: Onion, garlic,
Mushrooms
Flowers: Pumpkin flowers
Fruits Carbohydrates Sweet or tangy fruits that are •Aids in food
and vitamins often eaten raw. digestion
(water and fiber) Fruits: (except for ones in the fat
or vegetable group) papaya,
Guava, Lemon, Tangerine,
Banana, Mchisu, Granadilla
Honey and sugar cane (these
provide vitamins carboydrates)

7. Group main nutrient Examples of food Their role in the body
Legumes Proteins and Legumes are seeds in a pod. •Body maintenance
and Nuts carbohydrates Beans and Peas: Hyacinth bean •Muscle and tissue
(Minerals, (Khungudzu, ground beans (Nzama), development
Vitamins, Fiber, soybeans, pigeon pea (Nandolo),
Fat) Peas (Nsawawa), Mucuna
(Kalongonda)
Nuts: Mtedza
From Protein and Fat Flesh, Blood: Mice, Chicken, Pigeon, •Energy giving foods
food (Minerals and Pig, Goat, Fish, Ngumbi (termites), •Body maintenance
animals Vitamins) Caterpillars
Eggs, Milk and products: Milk,
Chambiko, Cheese
Fats and Protein and Fat Foods that feel fatty in your mouth: •Energy giving food
Oils (Minerals and Oilseeds: Pumpkin seed, sesame
Vitamin) seed, sunflower seeds, cooking oils
Fruits: Avocado pear, coconut flesh
Animal fat: Butter, Lard

8. Group Main nutrient Examples of food Their role in the
body
Staples Carbohydrates Seed without a pod and starchy •Energy giving food
(Protein, roots:
Minerals. Grains: Rice, Wheat, Sorghum,
Vitamins) Millet, Maize
Starchy roots : Yams (Chilazi, Viyao),
sweat potatoes, irish potatoes,
cassava

9. Linkage of Nutrition to HIV

11. Linkage of Nutrition to HIV
• There is a linkage between progression of HIV to
AIDS and poor nutrition
• Young people will progress fast to AIDS if their
nutrition is very poor
• Good nutrition will keep young people physically
strong that will help to continue going to school,
play, study, go to work, and do household chores
• However poor nutrition does not lead to
contracting HIV but it predisposes an individual
to opportunistic infections that like tuberculosis,
cancers that could make a person die.

12. Consequences poor nutrition
What could be the effects and
consequences of poor nutrition among
adolescents and young people

13. Consequences of poor nutrition among
adolescents and young people
• Obesity
• Increased risk of diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Joint problems ( Gout)
• Poor health status
• Under development (malnutrition)
• High risk of progression of HIV to disease
• Poor wound healing
• Increased prone to infections
• Poor cognitive development
• Bone malformation
• Dental problems
• Skin problems

14. How can we promote good
nutrition among adolescents and
young people?

15. What is the role of health workers
in promoting nutrition?

16. THANK YOU LISTENING