DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 13 (PIA) – With the upcoming resumption of face-to-face classes, health and nutrition advocates here stressed the importance of a proper approach to nutrition for the benefit of children.

Assistant Prof. Alvyn Klein Manaay, officer in charge of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department of Silliman University, said the proper approach to nutrition is by looking at it at a macro-level rather than focusing on specific food items.

These nutrition interventions are also outlined in the government’s nutrition campaigns such as the “10 KumainMents” and the “Pinggang Pinoy” Program.

“It talks about what your plate should look like, emphasizing fruits and vegetables and not just sige lang ta junk food, sige lang ta fast food. What your plate should look like is essentially what the ‘Pinggang Pinoy’ tries to illustrate,” Manaay said.

He added that variety is also important in food choices to ensure that the body gets as many nutrients as possible from food.

Moderation is also key, he said, as the “Pinggang Pinoy” gives a guide on how much food intake per food group per population group.

Manaay emphasized that with the right behavior towards food, parents will be able to prepare their children for the face-to-face classes in August.

This, he added, will also lead to a healthier children’s population which is essential as the threat of COVID-19 infection remains.

In the same forum, National Chairperson of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) - Crisis Management Committee Dr. Kenneth Coo said getting the right nutrition is important to boost the body’s immunity against COVID-19.

He said the important nutrients to boost the immune system are Vitamins A, C, D, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, and Zinc.

Lower malnutrition rate

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Liland Estacion announced in the forum that the province’s malnutrition rate and other malnutrition indicators are lower compared to the national figures based on the recent data from the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

“Ang atong malnutrition rate (weight for age) is 5.2%, then our stunting (rate) is 10.6%, and kani atong (our) wasting is at 3.4%. These three values kung i-compare nato sa national, mobo gihapon ta sa Negros Oriental (If we compare these three values with the national figures, we are still lower here in Negros Oriental),” Estacion said.

She added that observers from the World Health Organization noted that NegOresnes are more resilient than residents of Surigao Del Norte following the devastation of typhoon Odette in theses provinces.

This means that residents here are diligent in looking for ways to survive and are willing to help one another to ensure that children and adults still get proper nutrition after a calamity. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)