الفهرس 
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Abstract
Introduction
Childhood constitutes the most critical stage of life due to its vital role in health, cognitive, social, emotional, physical, motor development, and cumulative lifelong learning (Islam et al., 2016). The sustainable development goal 2030 formed in 2015 by the United Nation organization involves that each of the 193 member states should do extensive efforts and start actions to reduce the stunting, wasting, Iodine deficiency and anemia the indicators of hunger by 50 % by the year 2030 (Fanzo, 2019). United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates that approximately half of all deaths in children lower than five years are attributable to under-nutrition (Frison et al., 2016). With two-thirds of child mortality attributable to malnutrition, Egypt stands as one of the 36 countries, where 90% of the global burden of malnutrition falls. The double burden of malnutrition is categorized by living of undernutrition along with overweight, obesity, or diet-related deficiencies within individuals. Children who are overweight are in danger of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and coronary heart disease and micronutrient deficiencies due to a poor diet. The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a major challenge in Egypt, especially for overweight/obesity and stunting. The concern about malnutrition is that it has a long series of effects on early childhood growth and development cause not only to infant and child mortality but also, to physical and cognitive developmental impairments among children if children survive (Ministry of Health and Population, 2015).
Nutrition is one of many factors that influence brain progress, as a result, the improvement of children cognition. These factors fall into two broad categories, genetic and environmental. Nutrition is a part of the biological environment that affects the brain and cognitive development (Bryan et al., 2004).Major micronutrients deficiencies (vitamin A, zinc, iron, and iodine) are responsible for the main proportion of years of life lost and disability-adjusted life years (Black et al., 2013).
Animal sources foods are the best option for improving the nutritional quality of a largely plant-source based diet. Animal-source foods such as meat and fish are energy dense and provide critical multiple micronutrients and essential fatty acids with high bioavailability compared to foods such as iron fortified cereal products, due to the benefits of higher food synergy of animal source foods relative to their technologically produced fortified foods (Jacobs, 2009). Animal-source foods, such as eggs, meat, fish, and dairy products provide the best source of high-quality nutrients for supporting growth, development, and function of the young population groups (Murphy and Allen, 2003).
It is well recognized that suffering from under or over nutrition during childhood can inhibit a child’s physical and cognitive development. Stunting (low height-for-age) is linked to the long-term cost, such as impaired intellectual achievement and school performance, and also leads to decaling adult body size and, subsequently, reduced work ability and obstetric complications (Martorell et al., 1992).
Best et al., (2010) indicates that health problems due to poor nutritional status in primary school-age children is the most common causes of low school attendance, high absence, early failure, and poor classroom performance.
The relationship between nutrition and mental development in children is equally important in terms of their attainment and productivity both in school and in later life (Benton, 2010). Cognitive development is influenced by the interaction between the brain and its environment (Isaacs and Oates, 2008). Nutrition plays a vital role as one of the most important environmental factors influencing cognitive performance as it provides the building blocks for neural formation and brain development (Benton, 2008).