CHANDIGARH, 01.10.25-On the last day of the Swasth Nari Sakasht Parivar campaign, a highly informative talk was given on the role of diet in the health of women and children.

The talk saw dozens of mothers attend at the Advanced Paediatric Centre OPD, PGIMER, where experts Mr. B.N. Behera, Senior Dietitian and Ms. Navneet Kaur Sodhi ,Assistant Dietitian from the Department of Dietetics, provided essential nutritional guidance to mothers on lactation nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding practices, and complementary feeding and snack ideas for children.

The session armed the mothers with the knowledge necessary to support their own health during the postpartum period and ensure optimal growth and development for their children.

On Maternal Nutrition during Lactation, Mr. B.N. Behera emphasized the importance of a balanced diet rich in calories, protein, iron, calcium, and essential vitamins for breastfeeding mothers.

Practical tips were shared on hydration and incorporating nutrient-dense foods to maintain energy levels, which also supports milk production.

Mr. Behera said that lactating mothers should also incorporate milk and milk products like paneer. He added that the consumption of healthy foods like missi roti will also help to increase milk production.

Experts reiterated the importance of Exclusive Breastfeeding, which is the global recommendation for the first six months of a child’s life, highlighting its unparalleled benefits for infant immunity, as it contains immunoglobulins, and also helps in cognitive development.

Complementary Feeding should be introduced after six months. Mr. Behera guided the mothers on the timely and safe introduction of solids after six months, focusing on appropriate textures, which should be thin initially, variety, and the importance of iron-rich foods. Examples provided included Suji Ka Sheera, Rice Kheer, and Daliya.

The “Swasth Naari, Sashakt Parivar” abhiyan, organized from September 17 to October 2, 2025, was taken up by PGIMER with great enthusiasm. It included activities like screening for Breast Cancer and Anemia, blood donation and pledge, diet counselling, and regular awareness talks in which a large number of OPD patients and attendants were made aware of topics like Breast Cancer, Anaemia, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, and Fatty Liver Diseases, all with a focus on female health