ILOILO City – Good nutrition need not be expensive. In backyards grow fruits and vegetables using recycled containers, according to the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 6.
“We don’t necessarily have to put expensive food on our plates to achieve a healthy, balance diet if we are diligent enough to plant nutritious food sources in our surroundings,” said Sheryl Sedantes, the regional program coordinator of NNC-6.
Knowing which food are healthy is key, she added, pointing out that the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology and NNC have developed an easy meal guide for Filipinos – the Pinggang Pinoy.
Pinggang Pinoy is an easy-to-understand food guide that uses a familiar food plate model to convey the right food group proportions on a per-meal basis, to meet the body’s energy and nutrient needs of Filipino adults.
Under Pinggang Pinoy, there are four food divisions – a viand (protein), fruits and vegetables (vitamins and minerals), rice (carbohydrates), and water.
“Stay healthy. Practice good nutrition to strengthen our immune system,” Sedantes told Panay News.
NNC-6 hopes to spread the word on good nutrition this July. Presidential Decree 491 of 1974 designated July as Nutrition Month to create greater awareness on the importance of nutrition among Filipinos.
This year, the Nutrition Month theme is “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All”.
In Western Visayas, the island province of Guimaras will host the launch of the 2023 Nutrition Month celebration on July 6.
Sedantes, however, clarified that the campaign for proper nutrition is not only during July but year-round.
Malnutrition in Region 6
Sedantes said NNC-6 data showed a decreasing trend in cases of stunting, wasting and overweight or obesity in the region.
Stunting is defined as low height-for-age. It results from chronic or recurrent undernutrition, usually associated with poverty, poor maternal health and nutrition, and frequent illness and/or inappropriate early-life feeding and care.
According to the World Health Organization, stunting prevents children from reaching their physical and cognitive potential.
On the other hand, wasting is defined as low weight-for-height. It often indicates recent and severe weight loss, although it can persist. It usually occurs when a person has not had food of adequate quality and quantity and/or has had frequent or prolonged illnesses.
Stunting and wasting are forms of undernutrition or not getting enough nutrients.
Here is the prevalence rate of stunting, wasting, and overweight/obesity in the region from 2018 to 2022:
* Stunting – 2018 (8.45 percent), 2019 (7.64 percent), 2020 (7.13 percent), 2021 (6.85 percent), and 2022 (5.15 percent)
* Wasting – 2018 (2.62 percent), 2019 (2.53 percent), 2020 (2 percent), 2021 (1.85 percent), and 2022 (1.41 percent)
* Overweight/obesity – 2018 (2.3 percent), 2019 (2.25 percent), 2020 (2 percent), 2021 (2.62 percent), and 2022 (2.01 percent).
According to Sedantes, the prevalence rate for stunting, wasting and obesity is measured through “Operation Timbang Plus” (OPT) in children from zero to 59 months old.
In 2022, 588,246 children in the region underwent OPT.
She said factors that contributed to the decrease in malnutrition were the following:
* full support of LGUs in actively creating or developing a Local Nutrition Action Plan that serves as a guide for the implementation of nutrition programs
* intensive dissemination of information and raising awareness among the general public, especially among mothers, on how to give proper nutrition to children and their first 1,000 days (zero to two years) that begin during pregnancy
* LGUs’ adoption of the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program with NNC among pregnant women and children aged six to 23 months old
Guimaras’ Nutrition Month celebration
Sedantes said the 2023 Nutrition Month celebration in Guimaras would be spearheaded by the NNC-6, together with the Guimaras provincial government headed by Gov. Joaquin Carlos “JC” Rahman A. Nava and Guimaras Lone District’s Rep. Ma. Lucille Nava.
NNC executive director Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang will be the activity’s guest.
Sedantes explained they chose the province of Guimaras to host the launching activity to be more involved in addressing the malnutrition problem while at the same time acknowledging and appreciating the provincial government’s efforts and nutrition programs.
“Gusto namon ma-motivate and inspire ang LGUs to participate and recognize, and of course prioritize nutrition sa ila level kay we want nga indi lang sa national, regional and provincial, but even down to municipal and barangay levels may nagahulag parte sa nutrition program,” Sedantes said.
Among the highlights of the launching activity is the cooking demonstration, where pregnant women and mothers of children aged six to 23 months will be taught healthy dishes with inexpensive or readily available ingredients.
“Gusto naton ipakita or tudloan sila kag i-explain nga indi kinahanglan mahal ang i-prepare nga food sa family through the cooking demonstration of recipes nga gin-develop sang Food and Nutrition Research Institute,” she added.
The activity will be participated in by pregnant women and mothers or guardians of children aged six months to 23 months from the province.
This is to guide them in practicing good or proper nutrition during the baby’s first 1,000 days, or from conception until they are 23 months old, to avoid stunting, wasting, or obesity.
There will also be a fruit and vegetable expo.
After the launching activity, the NNC-6 will conduct a 2023 Nutrition Month Culminating Activity on the last week of July in Bacolod City.
It would highlight vegetable gardens to give the public inspiration for vegetable and fruit gardening./PN
