by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, July 30 (PIA) –
“Without cooking and vegetable booth display contests, the Nutrition Month
observance is meaningless.”
This was the statement of Isabela City
Nutrition Action Officer Maria Jennesa S. Tubongbanua as the city highlights
veggie cooking and vegetable booth display contests at the culmination
celebration of the 38th National Nutrition Month in the city.
Some twenty of the forty-five barangays under
the city participated in the vegetable display contest. The veggie booth
display of Aguada Barangay got the nod of the judges and was awarded as the
best booth.
This year, the different city department heads,
including some units of the Philippine National Police, compete for the veggie
cooking contest. The clustered departments displayed their cooking abilities in
preparing nutrition-rich meal that is cost-efficient and palatable, most
especially for kids. The entry from the Provincial Police Office won first
place with their vegetable barbeque (stir-fry mix vegetables with barbeque
sauce).
The recipe of Ginataang Kalabasa at sitaw with bulad and Kalderay won second and third places, respectively.
In her message, Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn
Santos-Akbar urged the public to plant vegetables in their respective backyard,
as she anchored her message to this year’s theme “Pagkain ng Gulay Ugaliin,
Araw-araw itong ihain.” She reiterated the benefits of eating vegetables and
encouraged parents to make it a daily habit to serve kids with vegetables.
Every year, the city government has been very
supportive of the City Nutrition Committee’s efforts, especially on programs
that entail public participation in nutrition celebration activities. Last
year, the different barangays competed for the vegetable recipe cooking.
(RVC/PIA9-ZBST)