They lack energy and the nutrients they need at the most
critical time in their physical and cognitive development, the report says.
Only half of children ages six months to 11 months receive
any foods from animal sources, which are essential to supply zinc and iron.
Infants and young children have greater nutrient needs than
at any other time in life, the report says, but the bodies and brains of
millions of young children do not reach their full potential because they are
receiving too little food, too late.
France Begin, senior nutrition adviser at UNICEF, says “poor
nutrition at such a young age causes irreversible mental and physical
damage."
UNICEF data show that:
Less
than one-third of children in this age group eat a diverse diet – meaning from
four or more food groups daily – causing deficiencies in vitamins and minerals.
The
high cost of foods from animal sources makes it difficult for the poorest
families to improve their children's diet. In Sub-Saharan Africa and South
Asia, only one in six children from the poorest households aged six to 11
months eats a minimally diverse diet, compared to one in three from the richest
households.
Almost
half of pre-school aged children are anemic.
Young
children wait too long for their first bites. One in five babies hasn't been
fed any solid foods by the age of 11 months.
Half
of children aged six months to two years are not fed the minimum number of
meals for their age, increasing their risk of stunting.
Cash or in-kind transfers to vulnerable families, crop
diversification programs and fortification of staple foods are key to improving
nutrition for young children, according to UNICEF.
"We cannot afford to fail in our fight to improve
nutrition for young children," Begin said.
