Many parents assume that as long as their toddlers are eating, they are healthy. But despite sufficient food intake, a growing concern in South Africa and around the globe is “hidden hunger” – a form of malnutrition caused by a lack of essential vitamins and minerals, even when daily kilojoule needs are being met.
This often arises during the transition from breastfeeding to solid foods, when toddlers become selective eaters or rely heavily on refined and convenience foods. Hidden hunger is not always visible, a child may look healthy but still be missing out on key nutrients such as iron, vitamin A, zinc, and iodine. These deficiencies can impair physical growth, weaken immunity, and limit brain development, with long-term consequences.
Malnutrition is not just a health issue but also a developmental challenge. Studies show that children who experience nutrient deficiencies early in life are more likely to struggle with learning, concentration, and school performance later on. The long-term impact extends beyond the individual, affecting families and the economy through reduced productivity and increased healthcare costs. The problem is worsened by factors such as food insecurity, poverty, and limited access to fresh produce in many communities.
According to Simangele Masuku, a Dis-Chem Baby City Clinic Regional Manager, “toddlers may fill up on foods that keep them satisfied but don’t provide the nutrients they need for healthy growth, brain development, and immunity. Parents often don’t realise that malnutrition is not only about being underweight or visibly sickly. A child can look fine on the outside but still lack key nutrients. That’s why awareness and education about healthy foods are so important.”
September marks Malnutrition Awareness and Better Breakfast Month, making it an ideal time to highlight the role of a balanced morning meal in fighting hidden hunger. Nutritious breakfasts for toddlers might include oats with milk and fruit, scrambled eggs with wholewheat toast, or fortified cereal with unsweetened yoghurt. These options are both affordable and accessible, while providing a good balance of protein, fibre, and vitamins.
“A balanced breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day and helps ensure toddlers get the nutrients they need to grow strong and stay healthy,” she adds and gives practical steps below:
Practical steps for parents
Small, steady changes at home can make a big difference:
- Introduce a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables, even in small amounts.
- Choose fortified staples such as maize meal and bread.
- Include iron-rich foods like beans, lentils, eggs, and chicken.
- Limit sugary drinks and snacks that provide kilojoules but little nutritional value. Ultra-processed foods such as crisps, sweets, biscuits, pastries, packaged cakes, instant noodles and ready meals are typically high in kilojoules, salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.
“Parents should remember that it’s not about perfection, but about balance where small, consistent improvements in meals can transform a child’s health,” concludes Masuku.
