National Nutrition Week 1 – 7 Sept, 2023 | Importance & Health Tips

The National Nutrition Week is a global healthcare event focussed on nutrition. In India, it is observed for the first week of September every year since 1982. During this day, various local and global communities gather around to advocate the importance of nutrition through various events and mediums.



A strong correlation is seen between a country's economic prosperity and the level of food production, as well as the extent of elimination of nutritional gaps. Nevertheless, it was discovered that there are various developed and developing countries in which one of the dominant issues is the prevalence of undernutrition.

Similarly, the Indian economy, which persists as one of the emerging markets, demonstrated the extent of malnutrition not only in the poor but also amongst all socio-economic groups. Steps are being taken to curb the nutritional gaps with serious crop diversification. 

History of National Nutrition Week 

It was in 1973 that the American Diabetes Association (ADA) launched the first National Nutrition Week campaign. The event was pushed into the public with radio service announcements, TV countdowns, news releases and even a presidential proclamation. All the commercials and reminders featured the theme “Invest in Yourself—Buy Nutrition.”



ADA advocated its position as an authority in nutrition along with the importance of good nutrition. 

While India has fertile lands, famines from the British era impoverished the nation. India has experienced decades of remarkable shifts to counter it. During the independence era, due to the prevalence of various major nutritional diseases such as kwashiorkor, keratomalacia, beri-beri, pellagra, etc., the Green Revolution restructured farming, dramatically decreasing the extent of malnutrition.

With the worldwide growing popularity of National Nutrition Week, India too planned its own local events and launched National Nutrition Week in 1982 to cease the growing nutritional gaps.

2023 - The International Year of Millets

Unleashing the potential of millet for the well-being of people and the environment.

The Green Revolution drove off famine and malnutrition with extensive cultivation of rice and wheat. The choice of Indian farmers to utilise high-yielding varieties of wheat, cereal and rice concomitantly with heavy chemical fertilisers resulted in the fast filling up stomachs and granaries. While the Green Revolution pressed cereal-centric agricultural yield and took care of malnutrition in the nation, the intensified cultivation rapidly depleted soil fertility, robbing off the essential micronutrients and compromising the nutritional quality.

This problem can be controlled by crop diversification. By growing and consuming various types of crops, any diseases occurring with malnutrition can be thwarted. The variety in nutrition brought by diversity in food is enabled only by serious crop diversification.

Taking consideration into account the ever-growing global population and the promise of millets as a nutritious and affordable option, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations accepted India’s proposal and announced this year, 2023, as the International Year of Millets 2023.

The various cereals millet family encompass are: 

• Pearl millet - high in fibre and essential amino acids. 
• Proso millet - a gluten-free nutrition rich in minerals, dietary fibre, polyphenols and vitamins 
• Foxtail millet - could improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetics 
• Barnyard millet – has higher amounts of proteins, fibres, and most micronutrients than other major cereals 
• Kodo millet - has higher polyphenol content and can be used to counter obesity. 
• Finger millet - has higher polyphenol content and can be used to counter obesity. 
• Little millet - a rich source of sulphur-containing amino acids 
• Sorghum millet – high in riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, and folic acid vitamins
• Teff millet - rich in vitamin E and B

Few tips for healthy eating

Given below are a few tips on healthy eating, helping in healthier choices.

A healthy diet comprises ingesting more or less the exact amounts of calories after understanding the average consumption of calories an individual consumes.

With extra calorific food, matching more than the needs of the body, it will result in weight gain with fat accumulation. A balanced diet is a must.

• Higher fibre starchy carbohydrates in the diet - At least 1/3rd of food must be of starchy carbohydrates such as potatoes, bread, rice, cereals, etc.
• Generous amounts of fruit and vegetables – They can be taken in either dried or juiced or in frozen form.
• Higher amounts of piscine diet – Diet containing fish (exclusively oily fish) as it is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
• Curbing saturated fat and sugar – cutting down fat and sugar can decrease cholesterol in the blood, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. Sugar reduction can stop the risk of diabetes and tooth decay. Therefore butter, cheese, cakes, biscuits etc must be cut down. 
• Lesser salt: - Per day, no more than 6g of salt must be consumed. It can stop hypertension. 
• Quench your thirst - Fluids must be consumed to avoid dehydration. Avoid alcoholic drinks. 
• Avoid skipping breakfast - skipping breakfast to lose weight is a misconception, as a healthy breakfast can form a balanced diet for a healthy life.

Know more about health awareness days