Importance of nut consumption impressed on International Children's Day

• On International Children's Day, 1^st June, the INC (International Nut and Dried Fruit Council) reports on the importance of including nuts in a healthy diet for children
• The number of overweight children under the age of five is estimated at over 42 million globally

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), excess weight and obesity are two of the most serious public health challenges of the 21^st century.

In 2013, the number of overweight children under the age of five was estimated at over 42 million. Obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood as well as being at a much higher risk of non-communicable diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular conditions at a younger age.

To coincide with International Children's Day on 1^st June, 2015, the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) is sharing compelling data on the benefits of including nuts in a child's diet.

Good nutrition is particularly important for children due to their extra nutritional needs during growth and development. It is therefore crucial that children develop healthy nutritional habits from a young age.

Nuts are an ideal source of nutrition as they are rich in healthy fats, high in dietary fiber and have an excellent profile of plant-based proteins. They also contain a wide variety of important micronutrients including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The WHO therefore recommends that the consumption of nuts and dried fruit be increased in a bid to combat the global childhood obesity epidemic, in the context of a healthy diet.

INC Cartoons - a fun way to encourage children onto a healthy diet

In January 2015, INC launched INC Cartoons to increase children's awareness of the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits. Children participated by watching INC Cartoons in which nuts and dried fruits are superheroes with nutrients, essential vitamins and minerals who fight the "bad guys": cardiovascular conditions, bone fragility and slow intestinal transit. They then completed the quiz and in the process gained increased awareness into the importance of including nuts and dried fruits in a healthy, balanced diet. They also discovered the wide range of nuts and dried fruits available - key to keeping young palates happy.