Today is May 20th. In the popular context, "520" is a day associated with love.
In fact, today is also a holiday: the 35th Chinese Student Nutrition Day.
In 1989, under the leadership of nutritionist Yu Ruomu, the Chinese Student Nutrition Promotion Association formulated a ten-year student nutrition work plan from 1991 to 2000, named the "Protecting Seedlings System Project." It designated May 20th each year as Chinese Student Nutrition Day. Starting from May 2001, "Chinese Student Nutrition Day" became a statutory holiday.
Behind this holiday is a group of nutritionists leading a team of scientific workers united in cooperation, serving the people with great love.
In 1981, Yu Ruomu and several colleagues conducted research at universities and found that not only were college students lacking in nutrition intake, but they also had little knowledge of nutrition.
Today, we all know that dietary nutrition includes at least: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and fiber. However, over forty years ago, few people realized the importance of a comprehensive and balanced intake of these nutrients. In school cafeterias, Yu Ruomu observed some people only eating fish, while others only ate cabbage with rice.
The situation was even more severe for high school students. Results from several national nutrition surveys in China showed that high school students had the worst nutritional status. This was because at that time, high schools rarely had cafeterias, and most students' parents were working, so children could only manage with cold food for lunch or eat at some informal private "small dining tables."
In the past, in some remote mountain schools with poor hygiene conditions, many students had been infected with hookworms, roundworms, and other intestinal parasites. These intestinal parasites would consume a large amount of nutrients, leading not only to malnutrition but also causing iron-deficiency or protein-deficiency anemia.
Starting Over at 60
In the 1980s, the elderly lady persisted in riding her bicycle to work, but after being hit and fracturing her foot, her family no longer allowed her to bike to work. She then transferred to the technology group of the Central Secretariat's research office near her home, thus embarking on the path of nutrition.
For Yu Ruomu, the importance of nutrition was self-evident from the research results. However, to change the current situation, she urgently needed a large amount of cutting-edge knowledge, and all of this had to start over at the age of 60.
She sought advice from the nutrition giants of that time, Professors Zhou Qiyuan, Shen Zhiping, and Jin Daxun.
Zhou Qiyuan and Shen Zhiping were renowned biochemists and nutritionists working in the nutrition department of the Central Institute of Health, specializing in food nutrient research. Representing them, a group of researchers compiled China's first "Food Composition Table." From then on, people could rely on which nutrients were present in commonly consumed Chinese foods.
Jin Daxun was one of the pioneers of the national nutrition survey. As early as 1959, he organized and participated in the first national nutrition survey, collecting seasonal dietary data from 500,000 people and biochemical tests from 20,000 people under limited experimental conditions and equipment. This laid a crucial foundation for subsequent nutrition work.
Nutritionist Jin Daxun
Under the guidance of these nutrition professionals, Yu Ruomu began to study nutrition in depth and systematically.
According to Yu Ruomu's daughter, Chen Weilan, in order to read cutting-edge literature, her mother relearned English. Because it involved professional knowledge, Yu Ruomu covered her home with cards filled with English words related to nutrition. In just a few years, Yu Ruomu was able to speak in English at international nutrition conferences.
Observing Nutrients under the Microscope
Seedling Protection System Engineering
However, even with an understanding of the nutritional status of students and corresponding expertise, driving societal change is no easy task.
Yuruo Mu is clear in his mind: this is not a problem that can be solved by one person alone; it requires the collective efforts of the government, academia, industry, and society as a whole. In 1988, Yuruo Mu led a group of young nutritionists including Shi Chengbin, Gao Yingjun, and Deng Shudu to organize the China Student Nutrition Promotion Association. On January 15, 1989, the inaugural meeting was held at the Huai Ren Hall in Zhongnanhai.
Through the collaborative efforts of experts, the government, and various sectors of society, the China Student Nutrition Promotion Association formulated the Student Nutrition Work Plan for the 1990s in China, named the "Seedling Protection System Engineering."
The Seedling Protection System Engineering focuses on four main aspects: nutrition promotion and education, compilation of nutritional recipes, student nutrition surveys, and prevention and treatment of malnutrition and parasitic infections.
During his work, Yuruo Mu deeply felt the inadequate public understanding of nutrition. According to the 1982 national nutrition survey, the calorie intake of Chinese residents had basically met the standards, but the intake of protein and vitamins was insufficient, indicating an unreasonable dietary structure. Some parents did not understand dietary balance, feeding their children large amounts of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, leading to the emergence of overweight children at that time.
Therefore, the "Seedling Protection System Engineering" designated May 20th of each year as "China Student Nutrition Day" and conducted a week-long campaign to promote nutrition and dietary hygiene knowledge using various forms of media such as newspapers, booklets, radio, and television.
Furthermore, tailored dietary recommendations were developed for students in different regions under the "Seedling Protection System Engineering." This was made possible by the national nutrition survey conducted by nutritionists led by Jin Daxun. They found that certain regional diseases in China were related to nutritional conditions. For example, the "pellagra" in the northwest region was actually due to a lack of niacin (vitamin B3) and tryptophan (an amino acid) in the staple food, corn, consumed locally.
To address issues of student malnutrition, intestinal parasitic infections, and anemia, the "Seedling Protection System Engineering" also conducted long-term student nutrition surveys and monitoring. Correction plans were developed for students already experiencing malnutrition, parasitic infections, and anemia.
Implementing Student Nutrition Lunches
Regarding the issue of students facing difficulties in dining at school, Yuruo Mu was inspired during a conversation with Shen Zhiping.
In 1983, Shen Zhiping was invited to attend an international seminar on "School Feeding and Education" organized by UNESCO in India. During the seminar, he learned that there was a state in India providing nutritious lunches to students, effectively addressing the issue of student malnutrition. Similar practices were also observed internationally.
Nutritionist Shen Zhiping
In the view of Yu Ruomu, implementing nutritious school lunches is a good approach. However, funding sources, ingredient supply, management mechanisms, and coordination among various departments are all complex issues.
As a result, Yu Ruomu launched a pilot program for nutritious school lunches in Hangzhou. Professor Zhu Shoumin from Zhejiang University School of Medicine was invited to tailor balanced diet recipes for students and set up experimental and control groups in a school.
One year later, they invited nutrition experts from across the country to assess the two groups of students and found that the nutritious meals greatly improved the students' physical fitness. Subsequently, the experience summarized in Hangzhou was rapidly promoted to many cities nationwide.
In 1990, Yu Ruomu guided the nutrition meal work at Baihua Primary School in Pinghu, Zhejiang.
Today, nutritious school lunches have become commonplace for us. Everyone has some understanding of what constitutes a healthy balanced diet. However, we must remember that this achievement is inseparable from the relentless efforts of generations of nutritionists.
It is through their work, starting from the study of the nutritional components of simple foods, investigating the nutritional status of the people nationwide, and then promoting a change in the societal perception of nutrition, that the physical fitness of Chinese students has been enhanced, injecting new vitality and hope into the future of the nation.
References
[1] "Biography of Yu Ruomu," Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Press, Publication Date: 2014-11-01
Planning and Production
Editor | Yinuo, Maiya Yang
Proofreading | Xulai, Linlin
