According to the biological explanation, the term nutrition stands for the process of taking in food essential for the health and growth of an individual. The foods that we consume are broken down to their finer constituents and are absorbed by the body to provide the necessary nutrients. The energy required by the body to perform various activities is derived from these nutrients. Deficiency of any of these nutrients leads to unhealthy conditions and causes diseases. It is therefore very important for all of us to understand the importance of nutrition and nutritious food in our lives. Various nutrition programmes are therefore conducted to educate people about nutrition and its importance for a healthy living.

The first and foremost aim of nutrition education programmes is to reach out to the masses and generate awareness about good food and the importance of following a healthy food plan. Populace across countries should be made aware of the baleful effects of such deficiencies and should be made to understand the rectifying approach to such conditions. Such nutrition programmes make them aware of, and understand the methods by which the improvements or rectifications can be achieved. The awareness helps to promote the healthy eating concept across the masses and in turn contributes to the wellbeing of people. This actually can be best achieved by conducting such programmes in various public institutions like schools, hospitals, etc. A teacher, doctor, nurse or a social worker would be an ideal person to reach out to the masses. They have a gift and charisma to entice and hence can persuaded the public to follow their advice and start on to healthy food habits. This motivation to switch over to a better diet helps people to avoid various health complications in long run.

Initial step to arouse awareness amongst the masses would be to create awareness in every single individual. Since ages, it is the lady of the house who has been entrusted with the food and cooking jobs, so the programme would as such remain unaccomplished without incorporating their interests and enhancing their knowledge about the good food habits. Now that doesn't mean men and children should anywhere be left behind! Such programmes motivate persons to follow not only healthy eating habits but also get into the improved methods of buying better quality of food items and eating mainly homemade, fresh and healthy food.

Though, it is meant for all, nutrition education programmes put more stress upon the eating habits in pregnant woman and children. Parents have started inculcating the habit of healthy eating into their children right from the very early stage of their lives. Though these programmes target to motivate everyone, yet they lay more emphasis on reaching out to the lower income groups in the cities and to other not so affluent sections of the society. Such programmes, through their constant efforts have aroused awareness amongst the people and have been particularly adroit at motivating them to adhere to healthy eating habits.