Sameer
“We Used to Feed Him Whatever Was Available”
When the Project Sampushti team first met Sameer Kumar during a routine screening in his village in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, the three-and-a-half-year-old was shy, quiet, and visibly underweight. His parents, Rakesh Kumar and Geeta Devi, are farmers with no formal education. They cared deeply for their son but had little knowledge of what a balanced diet actually looked like.
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“Pehle jo mila, wahi khilate the” (We used to feed him whatever was available), Geeta shared honestly. There was no real understanding of how proteins, vitamins, and calcium could shape a child’s growth.
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Sameer’s weight was just 9.4 kilograms, far below the healthy range for his age. While the family did receive ration benefits, the meals they prepared lacked diversity and essential nutrients. Like many other families in rural India, they believed filling a stomach was enough.
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That’s when our Sampushti saathi stepped in. Under the program, we began a 14-day Home-Based Nutrition Care (HBNC) program with Sameer and his family.
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Each day, we sat with Geeta and Rakesh, showing them simple ways to include eggs, milk, curd, green leafy vegetables, and pulses in Sameer’s meals. We explained how nutrition is not just about food, but about health, energy, and the ability to grow and thrive.
By the end of the program, the change was remarkable. Sameer had gained 1.4 kilograms, reaching a healthier weight of 10.8 kilograms. His parents noticed he was more active, playful, and slept better at night. More importantly, their entire mindset around food had shifted.
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“Earlier, we fed our child whatever was available without knowing its nutritional value. After DC’s intervention, we learned how to include protein, vitamins, milk, curd, and leafy vegetables in the diet. Now, we know exactly what to feed him, and we're grateful to you all for teaching us about nutrition and helping our family."
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This is not just a story about weight gain. It is about how the right guidance can make all the difference. Through our home-based nutrition care, we helped the family understand what their child really needed. A family that once fed their child without much thought is now preparing balanced meals. A mother who used to feel confused now feels confident. And a little boy who was falling behind is now eating better and growing stronger.
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Sameer’s story reminds us that sometimes, change begins with small steps, like learning what to put on a child’s plate.
