Nutrition Crisis Looms as Pandemic Cuts 39 Billion School Meals Worldwide

By 

Agnieszka de Sousa

January 28, 2021, 2:26 AM PST

• Some 370 million children miss 40% of school meals in pandemic
• Many are reliant on school meals for key source of nutrition

With many children reliant on school meals as a key source of nutrition, agencies urged governments to prioritize school reopening. Photographer: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

A global nutrition crisis is looming as 39 billion school meals have been missed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, risking the futures of millions of the poorest children, according to the United Nations.

Closed classrooms mean 370 million children on average have missed about 40% of school meals globally, the UN’s World Food Programme and Unicef Office of Research said in a report. With many children reliant on the meals as a key source of nutrition, the agencies urged governments to prioritize school reopening.

“We risk losing a whole generation,” WFP Executive Director David Beasley said in a statement. “For many, the nutritious meal they get in school is the only food they will receive all day.”

Healthy and nutritious food is becoming out of reach for millions of people as the pandemic reduces incomes and boosts unemployment. Children can feel the effects of a poor diet well into adulthood, as it can weaken immune systems, limit mobility and even impair brain functioning. Malnutrition can also cause poor school performance, hurting future career prospects.

Food Access

Percentage of the population that cannot afford a healthy diet

Source: FAO

Meal programs can provide incentives for the most vulnerable children to return to school. Estimates show that 24 million children are at risk of dropping out of school due to the coronavirus crisis, reversing enrollment progress made in recent decades, the UN agencies said

Guidance for Teenagers to Stay Mentally Strong During the Pandemic

By Erika P. staff@sciencetimes.com

The pandemic has disrupted many lives, including teenagers who also have a hard time attending school part-time, sporadically, or in a complete remote setting. Like most people, they also get stressed out and may find it challenging to cope up during these times.

Not only are the parents' efforts necessary, but teenagers themselves must also know how to care for their emotional wellbeing to keep themselves steady even with the pandemic going on. Here are some guidelines that teenagers can follow to ensure that their wellbeing is protected.

Take Advantage of Your Emotional Superpowers

Teenagers tend to experience emotions more intensely than adults. This could amplify the psychological discomfort that teenagers experience due to the current situation, but it also means that teenagers also get more out of pleasures and delights than others.

Recently, the only bright spots present seems to be only the small ones, which most adults do not feel satisfying. Teenagers can easily find happiness in simple things like playing video games, eating their favorite treats, cuddling with their pet, or being in nature.

Some adults may find it hard to grasp how these things make teenagers happy. But for teenagers, these small bright spots are more comforting and joyful. Teenagers should make the most out of their happy moments and their emotional superpower.

Trust Your Feelings

The first step in solving emotional distress is acknowledging your feelings. So, when a teenager feels sad, angry, stressed, and frustrated with the current situation, these feelings are undoubtedly right.

In a culture when these feelings are called unnecessary and emotional distress signals fragile mental health, they must know these feelings are valid, especially with what's happening to the world right now.

When at times they feel happy, this too is true. Teenagers must know that acknowledging and processing these feelings will help them cope with the situation and help them stay steady.

Read Also: Overcoming Separation Anxiety When Returning to Work

Count on Your Psychological Defenses

Every person has their psychological defenses that can either be unpleasant at times or helpful as it protects them from emotional overload. These defenses are often healthy and help people regulate how much upsetting a situation that a person can take all at once.

For example, teenagers use humor to crack up jokes in online classes to manage the frustration of sitting through hours of classes helps them maintain their connection to what is happening while reducing the emotional charge. The point is, the mind is wired in a way that enables the person to get through difficult situations by managing the rational and emotional thoughts to protect a person's wellbeing.

Mental Health Maintenance

Enough sleep and physical activity improves mood and reduce stress. Teenagers should enjoy the company of people that soothe and energizes them and remind them to stay away from people who can make them feel stirred up and spent.

Distribute mental energy with care toward the controllable things. Remember that feeling upset this time is expected as people have every right to be frustrated and resent the challenges of the pandemic. But direct this energy to the right things to prevent causing more anxiety in the future and focus on the power within as it will help make you feel better.

Read More: Working from Home Might Be Bad for Your Mental Health

Check out more news and information on Mental Health on Science Times.