NCC tells establishments to serve healthy food
CEBU City - Officials of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 7 will be visiting food establishments starting July 3 to encourage serving of healthy food.
This was announced by NNC Region 7 program coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission in a press conference on Tuesday about the activities for the 43rd Nutrition Month next month.
She said that this year’s nutrition month would focus on healthy dieting as the problems on obesity and non- communicable diseases continue to grow.
With the theme: “Healthy Diet, Gawing Habit - For Life,” Mission said the NNC aimed to promote healthy diets to help reduce the cases of overweight, obesity, and non-communicable diseases in the country as well as to encourage food establishments to offer healthier food options to the consumers.
“Starting July 3, we will visit food establishments, school cafeterias, and hospital canteens and encourage the serving of healthy food,” Mission said. “Of course, we can only advocate because we cannot force them to offer their customers healthy food only.”
“Likewise, we cannot prevent the consumers from eating unhealthy food. We can only discourage them,” she added.
She said the Nutrition Month celebration will formally begin July 3 with different activities to be held simultaneously in all cities and provinces in Central Visayas.
A Nutri-Fiesta Bazaar will be put up at Park Mall in Mandaue city on opening day where the public can savor all the healthy food and snacks on display.
Mission said they would also push for the full implementation of the resolutions passed by both the Regional Nutrition Committee and Regional Development Council enjoining private companies and government entities to serve healthy food and drinks and to provide healthy alternatives for rice.
The NNC will likewise present and promote the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition during the month- long celebration.
The celebration will culminate with the Regional Nutrition Action Officers Congress and the Grand Nutrition Awards for best- performing Local Government Units and frontline nutrition workers.
(PNA)