| 英文摘要 |
Nutrition during early childhood lays the foundation for lifelong health. Nutrition comes from diet. The National Health and Nutrition Status Survey in Taiwan (NAHIT) has tracked the dietary intake of young children. Recent data show that children aged 4-6 years have insufficient intake of dairy products, vegetables, and fruits. Correspondingly, their intake of vitamin D, calcium, and fiber is also lower than recommended. Regarding children's body weight, concerns in developing countries tend to focus more on overweight and obesity than on malnutrition. Observing data from 2013 to 2016 in Taiwan, the prevalence of ''overweight'' and ''obesity'' among preschool children was 20.4% for boys and 15.7% for girls, with a slightly higher rate in boys. The government has enacted several regulations to emphasize and protect children's nutrition, including the announcement of the ''Food Content and Nutritional Standards for Preschool Meals'' nationwide, providing guidelines for meal planning in preschools. A more proactive approach to ensuring children's nutrition involves promoting health and nutrition programs in preschools. Since 2019, Taiwan has implemented pilot health promotion projects in preschools, with nutrition being one of the four main focus areas. These projects are based on three key aspects (preschool health policies, children's health skills and behaviors, and communication with parents and community resources), with clear goals, strategies, and key indicators. Participating preschools, with the guidance and support of project coordinators, implement feasible plans within their institutions, engage in self-monitoring, and work towards continuous improvement. Promoting nutrition and health in preschools enhances the health of young children, which, in turn, contributes to national strength, benefiting children, parents, and the entire population. |