Canteen food

WITH the recent opening of classes, the Department of Education in the region is reminding schools to follow the department memo dated March 14, 2017 that ensures healthier food and beverages in all public and high schools in the country. The order which was signed by Education Secretary Leonor Briones identified food fare in schools that promote a healthy diet for growing children.

Citing the 8th National Nutrition Survey, this strategy hopes to improve the food consuming habits of children and hopefully create a healthy society in the future. The nutrition survey was alarming as it showed that for children 5-10 years old, 29.1% were underweight, 29.9% were stunted, 8.6% were wasted, and 9.1% were overweight.

The order emphasized the “double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition experienced by the school children in the Philippines is due to the fact that total food intake for some children has remained inadequate, resulting in undernutrition.”

The food allowed inside the schools are those classified as green food: water (nothing added), milk (unsweetened), fresh buko water (unsweetened), milled rice, brown rice or iron-fortified rice, corn, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, Cassava (kamoteng kahoy), boiled sweet potato (kamote), boiled saging na saba, boiled peanuts, suman, puto, fish, shellfish, small shrimps, lean meats, chicken without skin, nuts, egg, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

Those in yellow category are foods that must be served carefully (once or twice a week only) as they contribute to excess calories if eaten in large amounts. The red food group is not allowed at all.

Canteens inside the school should take this seriously not only because the DepEd is monitoring compliance of the memo but also because it is their responsibility to provide healthy food for the pupils. Also, parents should be aware of this memo so that their children’s baon complies with the healthy food memo of the DepEd. This brings to mind the adage “it takes a community to raise a child.”