My family has been on a constant journey to obtain a healthy lifestyle and teach our son to eat well. We don't always get the best nutrition in him, but that is not due to lack of our resources. When I think about families who don't have access to healthy eating, I know that my family is fortunate and I don't want to take that for granted. I also begin to wonder how I can help.

As a blogger, I've become more and more aware of ways I can help in not only my community, but across the world. This blog post, and sharing this information with my readers, is one way that I can do just that!!

Future Fortified is a campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to help millions of women and children around the world access the essential nutrients they need to maintain healthy, enriched lives. Their goal is to provide sustainable access to improved nutrition for 50 million women and children in developing countries by 2015.

I have never traveled to developing countries or places to witness this need, but I have several friends in my church family who have witnessed this first hand and I applaud the philanthropists who invest their time, money, and energy into programs like this. I believe it's God's work and while it may not be my particular calling, I know that God is using me in ways to help. 

A World Nourished
Ensuring adolescent girls, pregnant women and young children receive essential nutrients – such as vitamin A, iodine, iron, zinc, and folic acid – is a proven, cost-effective way to improve the health and well-being of millions of people and communities around the world. Improved nutrition for pregnant women, new moms and young children during the 1,000-day period from pregnancy to their second year of life puts children on the right track to grow-up healthier, smarter and even earn more throughout their lifetime. Nonetheless, an estimated two billion people around the world lack access to the essential nutrients they need for proper physical and cognitive development. In fact poor nutrition in mothers and children is the underlying cause of over 35% of all childhood deaths each year.

Working in the Child Protection Field, I do know the importance of good nutrition for pregnant women and young children – or rather the effects of lack of nutrition. This program is amazing in their goals and has the potential to save so many lives.

Home Nutrition Packets
Home nutrition packets are an innovative and proven way for moms around the world to improve their children’s diets. Adding essential nutrients to meals prepared at home helps strengthen bones, muscles and immune systems. At just pennies a day, the products are affordable for low-income and vulnerable families. We think it is great how families can sprinkle the essential nutrients right onto their locally grown foods! This is a simple, yet effective tool in helping children that really doesn't cost a lot at all. Every bit counts when it comes to raising a healthy child.

The idea of these packets is ingenious!! I can imagine that the residents of these countries in need, while wanting to be grateful for the help, would also be more willing to maintain this way of living if the healthy eating is integrated into their current culture. Food is such an important part of a culture and making that part just a little healthier is truly amazing.

Market Based Solutions
Future Fortified is a new kind of philanthropy. Funds raised from individuals are leveraged as investments, helping local partners build capacity to increase the supply and availability of home nutrition packets as well as educating people on their use and the importance of proper nutrition. Because these packets are produced and sold locally at a price mothers can afford, the solution is sustainable for long-term impact. It’s an effective way to fortify the future.

Lao Tzu – "Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime"

It's a helping hand and not just a handout and it's empowering!!

Get Involved
Future Fortified is building the first-ever mass constituency and community for global nutrition, providing innovative and easy ways for individuals, businesses and organizations to get involved. Together, Future Fortified supporters and partners will invest in sustainable, market-based solutions for global nutrition, inform themselves and others on the nutrition challenges and solutions and influence policy makers to make improved nutrition a global development priority.

Get involved today by just spreading the word!!

 Join: Sign-up to join the campaign at FutureFortified.org.

 Invest: Support of Future Fortified is directed to achievable and measurable programs, one country
at a time.

Get Rewarded: Future Fortified is launching the first-ever non-profit loyalty program, where online actions can be redeemed for real-world rewards.
 

 Shopping Fortified: Future Fortified is innovative, cause-focused merchandise geared towards moms and babies.
 

 Inform: Connect with Future Fortified and others on Facebook and Twitter to be part of an active community.
 

 Influence: Join with thousands of others to influence policy makers to put nutrition on the global political agenda.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf Future Fortified. To thank me for my contribution, Mom Central donated $20 to the Future Fortified campaign.