enmes

Enmes – Ear, Nose, Mouth, Eyes and Skin – AI Sensory-based food education system

1. Early education lack proper pre school classroom food education. 

2. The solution is to equip classroom with AI Sensory-based food education (enmes) to encourage 3-5 year old children to increase their willingness to choose vegetables, berries and fruit. 

3. Enmes offers new tools for promoting healthy dietary habits in early childhood education and care. The solution will definitely change the lives of millions if it is scaled globally – touching every child. 

Nearly 1 in 3 children in America is overweight or obese. Despite all the focus on kids being overweight and obese, many parents are still confused, especially when it comes to what kids eat. How much does your child need? Is he getting enough calcium? Enough iron? Too much fat?

According to the reports of a leading Indian NGO called CRY, most children in India under the age of 2 years do not have access to good quality food and adequate nutrition. The NGO based their report on the figures of the recent data released by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (2015-16 which shows that Nine out of 10 children in the age group of 6 to 23 months do not receive an adequate diet. 

Nutritional experiences in early life can have long-lasting consequences. To encourage the adoption of healthy eating habits, this solution ‘enmes’ is a step to curb usual development of eating habits.

A parent may misperceive her child as having insufficient nutritional intake when the child is active and more interested in play and the environment than in meals. Some parents have inappropriate expectations about sufficient food portions and weight gain. Failure to thrive (FTT) occurs when a child’s rate of weight gain has decreased to below the third to fifth percentile for gestation-corrected age and sex, or the child’s weight has fallen and crossed two major percentiles in a standardized growth chart. Children with FTT may have impaired growth (e.g. height, head circumference) and developmental skills and are at risk for long-term developmental and behavioural problems.

Parents may have difficulty making the transition from an infant who is cooperative during feeding to a toddler who seeks independence at mealtime. Limited food preferences may be normal and temporary during this period or may develop into a behavioural disorder.

Food preferences are established through exposure and accessibility to foods, modelling and advertisements. Most “alternative” diets are not harmful, although specific nutrient deficiencies should be addressed with some (for example, iron and vitamin B12 in vegan diets).

The idea is to use AI sensory-based food education method Enmes, which makes use of children's natural way of relying on all of the five senses when learning new things: by looking at, smelling, tasting, touching and listening to new things. In the AI based method, children are given an active role around food, and they are encouraged to share their sensory experiences. Each experience is recorded in AI algorithm and personal development is checked. Sensory-based food education is well suited to the everyday life of kindergartens, where children eat several meals every day and participate in pedagogically oriented group activities.

Kindergartens have a variety of methods to choose from when delivering food education. For example, they can introduce different vegetables, berries and fruit to children in hands-on sessions, they can involve children in baking and cooking, and they can offer children opportunities for growing their own vegetables in the kindergarten backyard. Food-related themes can also be included in books and games. There are several different ways to do this. However, it always starts from sensory-based learning, child-orientation and child engagement. Doing and experiencing things together is also an important aspect.

The AI system compare children in different kindergarten groups. Some were offered sensory-based food education, while others weren't. Children were offered a snack buffet containing different vegetables, berries and fruit to choose from, and the AI analyse their willingness to choose and eat these food items. The findings show that AI sensory-based food education given in kindergarten increased children's willingness to choose vegetables, berries and fruit -- especially among children whose mothers have a lower educational background. On average, children of lower educated parents tend to eat less vegetables, berries and fruit. This is how food education given in the kindergarten can help even out dietary differences between families.

Another interesting finding is that the ‘AI enmes’ food education method also seems to improve the eating atmosphere in kindergarten groups. This encouraged children who, according to their parents, were picky eaters, to choose a more diverse selection of vegetables, berries and fruit on their plate. Positive and personal food-related experiences gained in the kindergarten can help modify dietary preferences in a direction that is beneficial for health. Dietary preferences learned in early childhood often stick with a person all the way to adolescence and adulthood.

Use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) linked with personalized food habits to encourage children's willingness to choose vegetables, berries and fruit.  
 

The idea is to use AI sensory-based food education method Enmes, which makes use of children's natural way of relying on all of the five senses when learning new things: by looking at, smelling, tasting, touching and listening to new things. In the AI based method, children are given an active role around food, and they are encouraged to share their sensory experiences. Each experience is recorded in AI algorithm and personal development is checked. Sensory-based food education is well suited to the everyday life of kindergartens, where children eat several meals every day and participate in pedagogically oriented group activities.

Core Technology - AI algorithm

The AI system compare children in different kindergarten groups. Some were offered sensory-based food education, while others weren't. Children were offered a snack buffet containing different vegetables, berries and fruit to choose from, and the AI analyse their willingness to choose and eat these food items. The findings show that AI sensory-based food education given in kindergarten increased children's willingness to choose vegetables, berries and fruit -- especially among children whose mothers have a lower educational background. On average, children of lower educated parents tend to eat less vegetables, berries and fruit. This is how food education given in the kindergarten can help even out dietary differences between families.

‘AI enmes’ food education method seems to improve the eating atmosphere in kindergarten groups. This encouraged children who, according to their parents, were picky eaters, to choose a more diverse selection of vegetables, berries and fruit on their plate.

Positive and personal food-related experiences gained in the kindergarten can help modify dietary preferences in a direction that is beneficial for health. Dietary preferences learned in early childhood often stick with a person all the way to adolescence and adulthood.

Currently, we are doing testing out project with 50 students and plan to increase it 50 areas in one year. 

The current number of people you’re serving= 50

The number you’ll be serving in one year = 2500

 The number you’ll be serving in five years = 2500000

Goal is to expand the project.

There is need for improvement in AI algorithm - Technical problem.

We are planning to overcome these problems through funding and joint support. 

10 

Our team has done a through research on early childhood nutritional development. 

Currently none

customers and beneficiaries - Village schools.

Fund generation and government support. 

We are applying for fund and joint expert research support. 

We can partner with all organisation who are willing to scale our project. 

Our entire solution is based on AI.

Our solution will help underprivileged children - including girls.