BAGUIO CITY- The 38th Nutrition Month celebration this July in the region kicked off with a vegetable planting activity on Monday, July 2, followed by a press forum in line with the theme “Pagkain ng Gulay Ugaliin, Araw-araw Itong Ihain”.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator June Falancy said the vegetable planting activity was done at the National Nutrition Council (NNC) office at the Baguio Dairy Farm participated by the members of the Regional Technical Assistants on Nutrition (RTAN).

According to Falancy, vegetables are given importance as the entire nation celebrates Nutrition Month this year because it has been abserved that Filipinos these days are eating less and less vegetables.

Based on food consumption surveys, Filipinos on average are eating less and less vegetables per day in the last three decades. From 145 grams per day of vegetables in 1978, consumption has decreased to 110 grams per day in 2008. Across the country, consumption of vegetables varies between regions.

The Cordillera Region had the highest consumption at 169 grams with the CALABARZON and ARMM had the lowest consumption of 92 grams per day, she said.

Falancy mentioned as per 2005 survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), reasons for the low consumption of vegetables for the last three years include influence of family members who do not eat vegetables, dislike for vegetables because of the taste and texture, preference for meat than vegetables, vegetables require more time to prepare and lack of knowledge on the nutritional and health benefits of vegetables, among others.

She emphasized that having vegetables as part of a healthy diet can help prevent major non-communicable diseases.

Additionally, according to World Health Organization (WHO), adequate consumption of vegetables reduces the risk for cardiovascular diseases, stomach cancer and colorectal cancer.