BAGUIO CITY — Health practitioners and advocates in the Cordillera region are calling on parents to take full responsibility for their children’s nutritional habits by acting as role models for healthy eating.
Elmer Macalingay, owner of the plant-based restaurant Health 100 and a proponent of the “slow food” movement, emphasized that children often default to fast food because it is the most visible option. To counter this, he suggests that parents should demonstrate healthy choices and involve their children in the process of growing and preparing food.
- Lead by Example: Children are more likely to eat vegetables if they see their parents enjoying them.
- Involve Children: Engaging kids in backyard gardening or simple food preparation helps them appreciate the origin of their meals.
- Prioritize Variety: Healthy food does not have to be boring. Using different cooking methods—steaming, sautéing, or preparing fresh salads—can make vegetables more enticing.
- Simplicity and Cost: Contrary to popular belief, healthy food can be cheaper and simpler to prepare than processed alternatives.
The advocacy aligns with the global “slow food” movement, which focuses on:
- Good, Clean, and Fair: Opposing industrial food by preserving local traditions and biodiversity.
- Sustainability: Harvesting naturally grown food from the immediate environment.
- Ethical Production: Promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to reduce the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides.
Dr. Aida Pagtan of the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera highlighted that a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about what we eat, but how that food is produced. The agency is pushing for the adoption of GAP among farmers who may not yet be ready for fully organic certification, ensuring that the food reaching Filipino tables is safe and clean.
For many, like retired nutritionist Carol Domicog, the shift is personal. By maintaining a small backyard garden and raising “unstressed” chickens for eggs, she provides her family with a chemical-free diet that supports long-term health and recovery from illness.