Nutrition experts have advised parents to prioritise nutrient-rich foods such as eggs over biscuits, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages in children’s diets, saying regular egg consumption can help address Nigeria’s growing burden of childhood malnutrition.
The experts stressed that despite rising food prices, parents should make deliberate efforts to include affordable, high-quality sources of protein in the diets of children under five, noting that proper nutrition during early childhood is critical for physical growth, brain development and overall health.
They explained that feeding children an egg daily, where possible, can contribute significantly to meeting their nutritional needs and reducing deficiencies linked to poor growth and development.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in an individual’s intake of energy and nutrients. The condition includes undernutrition, such as stunting, wasting, underweight and micronutrient deficiencies, as well as overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.
The WHO estimates that about 150 million children under five globally are stunted, with Nigeria having one of the highest burdens of childhood stunting worldwide.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has described malnutrition as a violation of children’s rights, stressing that good nutrition provides children with the foundation needed to grow, learn, develop and reach their full potential.
In Nigeria, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria estimates that about 12.3 million children suffer from chronic malnutrition, with approximately 300,000 at risk of dying from related complications.
The challenge has been worsened by increasing food prices, which have affected many families’ ability to provide protein-rich foods for their children.
Eggs, previously regarded as one of the most affordable and accessible sources of animal protein, have become increasingly expensive. The price of a crate of eggs rose from about N2,600 in late 2023 to between N5,000 and N6,500 in many locations, while individual eggs now sell between N200 and N300 depending on location.
She explained that eggs contain high-quality protein, choline, healthy fats, vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin, as well as essential minerals including iron, zinc, selenium and iodine.
According to her, these nutrients are important for bone and teeth development, immunity, vision, brain function and overall growth in young children.
She said:
“Eating well-cooked eggs on a regular basis as part of a varied diet promotes healthy weight gain, enhances cognitive development, lowers the risk of protein and micronutrient deficiency, and improves dietary quality. Eggs are great for young children because they are inexpensive and simple to prepare.”
Ogunba advised parents to introduce eggs appropriately during complementary feeding, noting that early childhood provides an important opportunity to establish healthy eating habits.
She explained:
“For children 6 to 8 months, as the baby begins complementary feeding, this is the ideal time to introduce well-cooked eggs. Start with very small amounts to see how your baby tolerates them. Mothers can start by mashing or blending cooked eggs directly into their daily pap.”
She added:
“At age 9 to 23 months, eggs can become a regular staple in your child’s meals. Offering an egg daily can help meet their rapidly growing nutritional needs during these critical toddler months.”
For children between two and five years, Ogunba said one egg daily can provide a reliable source of energy and essential nutrients when combined with a balanced diet.
She urged parents to redirect money spent on sugary drinks and snacks towards purchasing nutrient-rich foods such as eggs.
“Spending on nutrient-dense foods, including eggs, should take precedence over sugar-sweetened beverages for children under five. High-quality protein and other elements that promote immunity, brain development, and healthy growth are found in eggs,” she said.
The nutrition expert warned that frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages offers little nutritional value and may increase children’s risk of dental problems, unhealthy weight gain and poor eating habits.
She noted that increasing egg consumption could form part of broader nutrition interventions aimed at reducing child malnutrition.
“In environments where diets are deficient in high-quality protein and vital micronutrients, encouraging the consumption of eggs can be a successful nutrition-specific strategy to help prevent and reduce malnutrition among children under five,” Ogunba said.
However, she stressed that eggs should not replace a balanced diet but should be included alongside other nutritious foods and appropriate infant and young child feeding practices.
She also advised parents to ensure eggs are thoroughly cooked before being given to children to reduce the risk of foodborne infections.
He said:
“The protein in eggs is of good quality as it contains all the essential amino acids, easily digested and fully utilised by children, helping to meet their protein requirements.”
Oloyede added:
“The egg protein is far better in quality and utilisation than any other animal or plant proteins.”
He explained that egg intake should be adjusted according to a child’s age and nutritional needs.
According to him, children below three years may consume up to four eggs weekly, while older children can safely consume one egg daily, with intake increasing as protein requirements rise during school age.
“As a general recommendation, between one and two eggs a day is good for a child, depending on his or her age,” he said.
The nutrition experts called for increased public awareness on affordable healthy diets, stressing that improving children’s nutrition remains essential to reducing disease burden and ensuring healthier future generations.