Eating Right Begins from Day One
- Blessing Amatemeso
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
From the Very Start: Prioritising Breastfeeding for a Healthier Future
Nutrition is the foundation of health. What we eat determines how we grow, how our bodies fight disease, and how we function daily. As adults, eating right means balancing our plates with whole foods—grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins, and healthy fats—while avoiding processed, sugary, and empty-calorie foods. It means listening to our bodies, staying hydrated, and being intentional about the fuel we give ourselves.
But nutrition is not just an adult concern. From the very first moments of life, nutrition shapes our growth, development, and survival. Children need nourishing food to thrive—and for infants, the definition of “eating right” is simple but profound: breast milk.
Breastfeeding: The First Food of Life
For the first six months of life, breast milk is the gold standard. It is nature’s perfect food for infants, uniquely tailored to their needs. Exclusive breastfeeding during this time ensures that babies receive all the nutrients, antibodies, and energy required for optimal growth and protection against infections.
Breastfeeding is not just nutrition—it is a baby’s first vaccine, building immunity and resilience. It is also a bond, nurturing both physical health and emotional security between mother and child.
The advantages of breastfeeding are vast and long-lasting:
For babies: Breast milk reduces the risk of diarrhea, pneumonia, ear infections, and malnutrition. It lowers the likelihood of obesity, diabetes, and allergies later in life. Studies show it even supports better cognitive development.
* For mothers:Breastfeeding helps mothers recover after childbirth, reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. In the long term, it lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
*For society: Breastfeeding is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and contributes to healthier populations and reduced healthcare costs. Unlike formula, it generates no packaging waste or greenhouse gas emissions.
The Difficulties Mothers Face
Despite these benefits, many mothers face challenges that make breastfeeding difficult. Some of these include:
* Lack of support at the workplace or inadequate maternity leave.
* Physical challenges such as low milk supply, pain, or infections like mastitis.
* Pressure from aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes.
* Social stigma around public breastfeeding.
* Limited access to trained lactation counselors or supportive health systems.
These barriers can leave mothers feeling isolated, frustrated, or forced to stop breastfeeding earlier than they would like.
Breast milk substitutes, such as infant formula, exist for situations where breastfeeding may not be possible—such as in cases of maternal illness, certain medications, or rare metabolic disorders in babies. Formula can provide nourishment and save lives where breastfeeding is not an option.
However, formula has limitations:
* It lacks the immune-boosting antibodies found in breast milk.
* It is costly and may place financial strain on families.
* Preparation requires safe water and proper sanitation—both of which may be lacking in some settings.
* Over-reliance on formula can reduce breastfeeding rates, depriving infants of its unique benefits.
Thus, while substitutes are valuable in specific cases, they cannot match the holistic benefits of breast milk.
Supporting Mothers: Creating Sustainable Systems
This is where the theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2025—“Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”—becomes so important. If we want infants to eat right, and if we want societies to thrive, we must actively support mothers through:
*Health systems: Training health workers to provide skilled breastfeeding counseling before and after birth.
* Workplace policies: Ensuring paid maternity leave, flexible work hours, and breastfeeding breaks.
* Community support:Creating breastfeeding-friendly public spaces, milk banks, and peer networks.
*Legal protection:Enforcing regulations against unethical marketing of breast milk substitutes.
*Education:Raising awareness that breastfeeding is not just a private choice but a public health priority.
You might think you are not in government or an employer of Labour, but you are part of a community online and offline, you can raise awareness, you can show support.
Conclusion: Eat Right, Start Right.
National Nutrition Week reminds us all to “Eat Right.” But eating right is not only about choosing salads over fast food—it starts from the very beginning of life. For infants, eating right means breastfeeding
To truly build a world where nutrition is prioritised, we must not only educate adults about balanced diets but also invest in systems that protect and promote breastfeeding. Because when we prioritise breastfeeding, create sustainable support systems, and support mothers, we invest in the future health of our children, our families, and our societies.
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