Introduction

In the previous session one and two, you learnt about food, diet nutrients and the food sources of different nutrients. In addition to this, you have also discovered the effect of malnutrition on health. To be health, the appropriate type and amount of food have to be supplied to the individual age group of people.

In this session, you will learn about the nutritional needs at different stages in life. The nutrient requirements during the four main stages of the human life vary considerably. What infants and children require is entirely distinct from that of adults and the elderly. Also, there might be specific nutrients which pregnant women and lactating mothers need in larger amounts than adult men.

Therefore, as a health extension worker that gives intensive nutritional education to the community, this study session will help you to lacquer the basic knowledge about the nutritional requirements of people in different age category, so that, you will be able to deliver the appropriate messages to various segments of the population in your community.