By Felipo David G. Malcampo
ZAMBOANGA
CITY,
July 11 (PIA) - - The country is
celebrating Nutrition Month (July) putting focus on encouraging the Filipino
people to increase vegetable consumption and to make vegetable a regular item
in every meal of the family.
National Nutrition Council Regional Nutrition
Program Coordinator-Ma. Del Pilar Pamela Tarroza during the kick off activity
held recently said “the 38th year of celebration of Nutrition Month is focused
on vegetables and is anchored on the theme “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw
itong ihain!””
Tarroza said this year’s
nutrition month activities are aimed at increasing
awareness on the benefits of eating
vegetables; to promote vegetable consumption as part of a healthy diet to
address micronutrient deficiencies and non-communicable diseases; promote
vegetable gardening as a source of additional food and income; and increase demand
for vegetables to help local vegetable farmers.
Tarroza explained “eating
vegetables is very essential to our health because vegetables are packed with
nutrients and dietary fibers,” she said.
“ Green leafy and yellow
vegetables such as malunggay, saluyot, kangkong and kamote tops are
particularly rich in beta-carotene which are converted to Vitamin A in the
intestinal wall and liver though requiring dietary fat for better conversion
and utilization,” Tarroza explained.
“Moreover, fresh and lightly
cooked leafy greens are good sources of Vitamin C as well as iron, calcium,
folic acid, vitamin E and other phytochemicals while the non-leafy vegetables
such as eggplant, string beans, sayote, upo, and ampalaya not only contribute
dietary fiber and variety to our meals but also provide additional iron and B
complex vitamins,” She further shared.
Based on the results of the Food
Consumption Survey, Filipinos on average are eating less and less vegetables
per day in the last three decades.
“The
World Health Organization recommends consumption of 400grams of fruits and
vegetables every day, but from 1998 survey the average Filipino consumption is
only 145 grams and in 2008 this is even down to 110 grams,” Tarroza informed.
The
Nutrition Officer encouraged the public specially the parents to make vegetable
consumption a part of their daily lives because eating veggies can help prevent major non-communicable
diseases and can help prevent micronutrient deficiencies.
She also called on the public to grow vegetables or
have a vegetable garden in their homes, in schools and offices. “Having
vegetable gardens in the households can increase supply and availability of
vegetables for families,” Tarroza said.
Nutrition
Month is being celebrated by virtue of Presidential Decree 491 the Nutrition
Act of the Philippines of 1974 by the late President Marcos .
(JPA/FDM/PIA-ZBST)