Stop spending on biscuits, buy eggs instead for your children — Nutritionists

Nutrition experts in Nigeria are calling on parents to prioritize eggs for children under five, urging them to shift spending away from biscuits, sweets, and sugary drinks. This appeal comes amidst soaring food inflation that has made essential foods like eggs increasingly unaffordable.

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Feeding children under five an egg daily can help in curbing Nigeria’s high burden of malnutrition.

Experts highlight that a daily egg can significantly curb Nigeria's high burden of malnutrition. Malnutrition, defined by the WHO as imbalances in nutrient intake, includes undernutrition like stunting and wasting, and overweight conditions. Globally, approximately 150 million children under five are stunted, with Nigeria having the second-highest number.

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Do not allow soaring food inflation to deny their children the basic high-nutrient food, such as eggs, they need for healthy growth and brain development.

The Paediatric Association of Nigeria reports that about 12.3 million Nigerian children suffer from chronic malnutrition, with 300,000 at risk of death. The UN Children's Fund considers malnutrition a violation of children's rights, emphasizing that good nutrition is vital for development.

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Eggs are a cheap, high-nutrient food that promotes children under five growth and development.

Eggs, once an affordable protein source, have seen prices surge from around N2,600 to N6,000 per crate in late 2023, now ranging from N5,000 to N6,500, with individual eggs costing N200 to N300. Professor Beatrice Ogunba of Obafemi Awolowo University stresses that eggs are a nutrient powerhouse, rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals essential for children's growth, brain development, and immunity. She advocates for one well-cooked egg daily as part of a varied diet to improve dietary quality and prevent deficiencies.

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Eating well-cooked eggs on a regular basis as part of a varied diet promotes healthy weight gain, enhances cognitive development, lowers the risk of protein and micronutrient deficiency, and improves dietary quality.