What is National Nutrition Month?

National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign to highlight the importance of healthy eating and to promote registered dietitians as a source of credible, sound nutrition information. The National Nutrition Council Technical Committee approved the theme for this year's Nutrition Month celebration which is "Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain!" The theme focuses on encouraging Filipinos to increase consumption of vegetables to address micronutrient deficiencies and prevent non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. Note: Nutrition Month is celebrated every month of July (Section 7 of Presidential Decree 491) What is the 2012 Nutrition Month celebration all about? The 38th Nutrition Month celebration underscores the importance of vegetables to increase vegetable consumption as part of a healthy diet to address micronutrient deficiencies and non-communicable diseases, promote vegetable gardening as a source of additional food and income, and increase demand for vegetables to help local vegetable farmers. Why focus on vegetables? Nutrition Month focuses on vegetables for several reasons: Filipinos are eating less and less vegetables. From 145 grams per day in 1978, consumption has decreased to 110 grams per day in 2008. In terms of age groups, children six months to five years old consumed only a little amount of vegetables. Studies show that among the reasons for low vegetable consumption are: influence of family members who do not eat vegetables, dislike for vegetables because of taste and texture, cultural beliefs about vegetables, cost, preparation time, fear of chemicals. How much vegetables should be taken daily? The World Health Organization recommends eating a minimum of 400 grams of vegetables and fruits per day, which is equivalent to five servings per day with three servings of vegetables per day. The WHO recommends this amount in order to prevent non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, as well as prevent/alleviate several micronutrient deficiencies, especially in less developed countries. The colors of 2012 Nutrition Month are green, yellow, orange, and red. Why? They are the colors of the vegetables, the main characters of this year's theme--- "Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain!"

The National Nutrition Council (NNC) created this theme to instill in children the healthful benefits of vegetables which are necessary to have a healthy body. I really like this year's theme because it reminds us especially the parents who are the main providers of food to children to teach kids the importance of eating vegetables. However, most of the kids are

stubborn to eat veges for they rather have junk foods and sweets. But, then again, nothing beats constant reminder and constant encouragement. Thank God we have a Nutrition Month Celebration every year. It is a time when parents, teachers, and students join together to celebrate life, health, and nutrition. What Is Nutrition? Why Is Nutrition Important? Nutrition is the study of food at work in our bodies, our source for energy, and the medium for which our nutrients can function. Think of nutrition as the building blocks of life. Good nutrition means getting the right amount of nutrients from healthy foods in the right combinations. Having nutrition knowledge and making smart choices about the foods you eat can and will help you achieve optimum health over your lifetime, and be a key to avoiding obesity, illness, and many of todays most prevalent chronic diseases. For me personally, nutrition translates into health, and health is freedom. Being healthy not only makes us feel great, it enables us to enjoy life to our fullest potential, and to follow our dreams. Conversely, a poor diet can have a serious impact on health, and rob you of your freedom. Nutrition is about choices.

The theme for Nutrition month 2012 is Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain. Why the theme focus on vegetables?