Nutrition Poverty in Children - Causes, Consequences, COVID-19

Abstract

The SARS-CoV2 pandemic has resulted in long-lasting restrictions that have particularly affected children in poor families. Not only the psychological pressure, the lack of social contacts, which are communicated again and again, but also insufficient nutrition has consequences for the children. However, the latter has been overlooked so far, as it is difficult to imagine in a country as wealthy as Germany. Children from poor backgrounds are in many cases not sufficiently nourished even before the closure of schools and thus also of school canteens. A healthy diet, as children require especially in the developmental phases, cannot be financed with the available funds of ALGII. If a lockdown situation is added to this, the financial framework for food becomes even tighter and the failing school meals exacerbate the situation of malnutrition among children from poor backgrounds. In Germany, this is currently 21%, most of whom live with one-parent households (53%). The consequences are also visible in Germany, growth retardation and limited cognitive development. The cause is a lack of micronutrients (iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin D) needed for physical and cognitive development. The increase of the daily rate for nutrition for children between 6 and 16 years (4.01€) to 5.50€ is an urgent measure, as well as an alternative to school meals when schools are closed.