So, I've been watching Discovery Health tonight, in lieu of doing my microbiology and ASL homework. One of the typical programs on, about real life stories in the ER, had a rather interesting story on tonight. Basically, a little boy came in with extreme pain when he tried to walk.
The doctors initially thought of the possibility of parental abuse, because there were numerous bruises all over the boy. They still ran the usual tests, x-rays and a blood test, and came back with the results of an extremely low red blood cell count, characteristic of anemia. His x-rays also indicated that there was some problem with his growth plates, which is what caused his pain when he tried to walk or stand.
Their diagnosis? Scurvy. The disease that plagued those on ships across the Atlantic way back when due to a lack of vitamin C. It was easily cured by eating citrus fruits once the ship came into port again.
The reason a little kid in the US had scurvy, a disease that is almost unheard of in developed countries? His parents let him eat only oatmeal.
That's right. Oatmeal. Sometimes with some sugar in it. Nothing else. Because he would cry when they tried to feed him anything else.
This was just mind boggling to me. How could you possibly allow your child to eat only one food, and think it's ok for their health to do so? I mean, at least oatmeal is slightly more beneficial than candy, but not much. But if the parents weren't eating the same thing day after day after day, why would they allow their child to? They can read what's in the oatmeal and realize that it doesn't have the necessary nutrients (as every nutrition label is required to list the major vitamins and minerals--Vitamins A and C, sometimes E, plus Iron and Calcium).
I just don't get how some parents can truly think they are doing the best thing for their child while doing something so blatantly stupid.
Wow.
I cry when I think of the lack of education in the country. What did this child eat when he went to school? I am pretty sure the school lunch programs do not always provide oatmeal. He must have always had to bring his lunch... mmmm cold oatmeal.
I really wonder about the state of our nation when I read stuff like this.
He was young... maybe 5. So he might not have gone to school. If he went to daycare... I have no idea. I can't see the daycare provider letting him eat oatmeal only, since they're required to have a very specific nutrition plan set out.
~C
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That's not entirely true. If the daycare center provides meals or snacks they may need to follow nutritional standards determined by the state and/or accrediting organizations, but those nutritional standards may not be very specific.
Some daycare centers allow or even require kids to bring their own lunches and/or snacks. The daycare/preschool I work at provides two snacks a day and drinks. Breakfasts can be packed or provided for an extra fee, and lunches must be packed (except on special occasions).
That said, if we saw a kid bringing oatmeal and nothing else every single day for lunch, we would probably be talking to the parents and encouraging them to provide more nutritionally balanced lunches for their child.
"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."
Ok... well, they were rather strict in the daycares my sisters went to up until last year, so that's what I was pulling information from.
~C
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