Prepare school baon yourself, nutritionist tells parents

If parents want to make sure their children get the nutrition they need, it’s better if they prepare their children’s school baon themselves, said a nutritionist and dietitian on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation." According to the report, school children need to be adequately fed before attending class. “Malamang ‘yung pag-focus nila sa pag-aaral ay nawawala. Andiyan sila sa school pero wala sila gaanong na-aabsorb," said nutritionist and dietician Denver Colayco. “Generally, maganda para sa mga kabataan ang calcium para sa kanilang pagtangkad, Vitamin A para sa pampalinaw ng paningin o ‘yung mataas sa iron at iodine," he added. At the Benigno S. Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City, parents waited outside school grounds just to make sure that their children would not stray and feed on the candies and junk food available just outside the school.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Colayco added that preparing their children’s baon would also give parents a chance to bond with their children and more. “Food preparation dapat kasi sila din kasi na-aappreciate nila kung ano ibinaon nila. And chances are hindi nila ipag-palit sa baon ng iba kasi proud sila,"he said. In the Philippines, no over-arching policy exists that ensures the health of school children. According to GMA reporter Joseph Morong, it is usually up to the local government unit to regulate and ensure food sanitation —especially of street food. Over 3.35 million or 26.2 percent of Filipino children aged five and younger are underweight while 3.57 million or 27.9 percent are under-height, according to a 2008 study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. In 2008, the Arroyo government implemented a program to nourish children in day care centers and elementary schools. However, only 19.8 percent of those who were part of the program said that they benefited from it. The previous administration’s program was also tainted by patronage politics, reported Morong, partly causing its failure. The current administration is in talks to revive the program in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Agriculture Department but a conclusive announcement has yet to be made. – BC/VS, GMA News