Мothers learn about healthy child nutrition

The profound analysis of Roma integration issues reveals that problematic social and school integration of the children from Roma community is due to serious gaps in early child development. Nutrition is one of the most important factors influencing the development in the early years, mostly because it is related with the development of the brain and the brain functions. Inappropriate nutrition in the early years has severe consequences for the physiological development and the brain functions. Young mothers often choose easy cooking for their babies and toddlers – junk food and sweet beverages. Thоsе nutrition habits change the flavor receptors and later the children and the families show preference only for food that causes obesity and chronical diseases, but also predispose limitations in the development of the brain functions. All those result in problematic social and school adaptation of the children and obstacle their academic achievements.

To change the attitudes regarding the nutrition in the community, we work individually with the mothers, but also we organize group trainings to improve their awareness and skills. Besides those systematic efforts for improving the nutrition habits of the children through the mothers, we are trying to reach a wider circle of concerned mothers by using an innovative peer education approach. We present here our peer educators who are in the middle of their training for awareness raising and improvement of their communication skills to work with their friends and relatives for changing the old practices and inappropriate nutrition habits within the community.