The First Five Years: Why Childhood Nutrition Matters

Around the world, millions of children face a daily struggle most of us can barely imagine—simply getting enough to eat.

In Honduras, three-year-old Deysi often had only one meal a day, sometimes two if her family was fortunate. This limited intake isn’t just difficult for a growing child—it’s dangerous. Without consistent, nourishing food, Deysi’s physical and mental development is at risk.

In Belarus, Artem struggled with a nervous system disorder. By the age of two, he still hadn’t spoken a word. While multiple factors can contribute to developmental delays, poor nutrition is a likely cause. A lack of essential nutrients in Artem’s early diet may have impacted his brain development, delaying milestones like speech.

According to general health guidelines, boys aged 2–3 years need 1,000 to 1,600 calories per day, and girls the same age should consume 1,000 to 1,400 calories, depending on their growth and activity levels. But it’s more than just calories—children need a balance of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to support their rapidly growing bodies and developing brains.

The Impact of Malnutrition on Child Development

The first five years of life are especially critical. During this time, a child’s brain develops more rapidly than at any other period. Inadequate nutrition during these foundational years doesn’t just lead to short-term delays—it can result in permanent cognitive impairments, weakened immune systems, stunted growth, and emotional delays.

Proper nutrition fuels the body to do what God created it to do—grow, learn, and thrive. When children are nourished:

• Their brains develop properly, allowing them to meet learning and communication milestones.
• Their immune systems strengthen, helping them fight off common illnesses that can become life-threatening in undernourished children.
• Their muscles and bones grow as they should, supporting motor skills, coordination, and physical independence.
• Their emotional well-being improves, as hunger and malnutrition are closely tied to anxiety, irritability, and withdrawal.

Children who lack proper nutrition often struggle to focus, fall behind in school, and face emotional challenges. But with the proper support—adequate meals, clean water, and medical care—they can overcome these challenges and reach their full potential.

What Local Churches are Doing to Help Children in Need

Malnutrition is devastating—but it’s not hopeless.

Children like Deysi and Artem don’t need extravagant solutions. They need consistent access to nutritious food, clean water, and the support of people who care enough to step in.

At Children’s Hunger Fund, we believe that real, lasting change happens through the local church. That’s why our trusted church partners across the US and around the world are equipped with more than just food—they’re equipped with the life-giving power of the gospel.

Through Food Paks filled with nutritious meals, pastors and volunteers deliver both physical nourishment and spiritual encouragement directly to the homes of children in need.

What You Can Do to Help

Every child deserves more than survival—a future full of possibility. And that future begins with a full stomach.

The meals in a Food Pak from Children’s Hunger Fund help meet daily calorie needs, strengthen developing immune systems, and give children the energy to grow, learn, and thrive. But more than that, they open doors for relationships, prayer, and life transformation.

You can be part of this life-changing mission.

Your compassion can help provide the nutrients a child needs to grow strong and healthy. Together, we can rewrite the story for children around the world—starting with one meal at a time.

Donate now and help feed a child’s body and soul.

Your gift today helps deliver essential food and eternal hope to children who need both.

The recipients’ names have been changed to protect their privacy.

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