The last week of September is celebrated as National Family Week. This year’s theme, “Tungo sa Maginhawa, Matatag at Panatag na Pamilyang Pilipino” calls for strengthening the solidarity and stability of Filipino families. As we also face this pandemic crisis, it continues to threaten food security and nutrition in every Filipino family. Timely as it is, we have to consider the role of family in taking part of securing good nutrition in every household. Here are some points to remember to improve family nutrition.
Ensuring family food security
According to Food and Agriculture Organization, a family is food secure if it has sufficient safe and nutritious food throughout the year so that all members can meet their nutrient needs with foods they like/prefer for an active and healthy life. Families should know that food security also girdles food production, budgeting and storage. Also, improving food production such as backyard gardening, is the key in ensuring an acceptable level of food quality and safety.
Choosing a healthy plate
Filipinos are known of having close-knit family ties. Thus, we value the importance of mealtime together with our families. Parents should take this opportunity by allowing their selves as role models in encouraging their children of having a healthy diet. It would also be great if children will be already involved in meal planning and food preparation to realize the importance of healthy eating at an early age. In finding the easiest guide, we should always remember the proper food portions showed by Pinggang Pinoy, conveying a healthy plate for all Filipinos as recommended by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in collaboration with the National Nutrition Council (NNC).
Protecting Infants and mothers
As child bearers, optimum health of mothers can provide a leeway advantage of having a well-nourished baby. As we have known, the First 1000 days (or the first two years of a child) will shape life as the critical time in neurodevelopment. In every family, the health and well-being of mothers matter as it will directly affect the growth and development of the growing child. As the adage goes, a healthy world, starts with a healthy mother. To add, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child is highly encouraged providing the baby sufficient nutrients.
Just like in shaping a child’s tenets, families have pivotal roles of establishing a healthy diet. It is important that proper awareness and education will start in the family. Hence, NNC believes that responsible parenthood in achieving good nutrition will also lay the foundation of our healthy society.(DPA/AMF)