NNC Caraga calls on families to grow, eat nutritious food for a healthier future
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur — Nutrition Officer III Leah Vina P. Vargas of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga encouraged Filipino families to make eating together at home a regular practice and establish backyard food gardens to produce their own nutritious vegetables, during the Kapihan sa PIA at SM City Butuan.
She emphasized that growing vegetables at home not only provides families with healthier food options but also contributes to environmental conservation by promoting sustainable food production and reducing food waste. Vargas added that teaching children the value of healthy eating and gardening is an investment in building a healthier future generation.
“We encourage everyone to eat at home and eat with your family. Establish backyard food gardens with four to five varieties of vegetables. This practice helps improve household nutrition, protects the environment, and reduces waste from buying food outside,” Vargas said.
Vargas also called on schools and educational institutions to strengthen nutrition education among learners by promoting healthy eating habits and raising awareness on the importance of proper nutrition, including breastfeeding as a vital component of child development.
She likewise encouraged government agencies, private organizations, and development partners to champion healthy eating in workplaces, establish office and household food gardens, and provide nutritious food choices for employees. According to Vargas, these collective efforts can help improve nutrition outcomes while supporting environmental sustainability and the goals of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).
NNC’s mandate directly aligns with that of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a healthier Philippines through the provision of proper nutrition and food security, especially for vulnerable sectors of society, such as children.
“Our dinner table and ecosystems are all interconnected, which means that we cannot cultivate a healthy population on a sick planet. Our well-being mirrors the vitality of our surroundings,” President Marcos Jr. said in his message during the opening of the 2026 National Nutrition Month.
His message underscored the strong connection between environmental protection and food security, in line with this year’s National Nutrition Month theme, ‘Sa PPAN: Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat!’ and sub-theme, ‘Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan!’
Through this year’s Nutrition Month celebration, the NNC continues to advocate for stronger collaboration among families, communities, schools, government agencies, and the private sector in promoting healthier lifestyles while protecting the environment, recognizing that food security and a healthy ecosystem go hand in hand. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur)
