1.3 What is healthy nutrition?
Healthy nutrition takes many forms and is understood differently in different countries and among
different cultures. In general, healthy nutrition should be an integral part of daily life that
contributes to the physiological, mental and social well-being of individuals (8). It is the combined
effect of food, health and care. Nutritional well-being is determined by consuming safe food as
part of an appropriate and balanced diet that contains adequate amounts of nutrients in relation
to bodily requirements. The health and lifestyle of an individual influences the extent to which food
contributes to good social, mental and physical well-being. Care is shown by providing time,
attention and support in the household and the community to meet the food and health needs of
the child and other family members (8). Furthermore, social ties are validated and maintained by
the exchange of food since offering food is associated with offering love, affection and friendship
(39).