02/07/2025
๐๐พ๐๐๐๐พ๐ | ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐: ๐ก๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐
They say everything's okay as long as there's food on the tableโbut sometimes, even a full plate hides an empty truth.
Not all meals meet the nutritional needs required for proper growth, focus, and health. In fact, according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), many Filipinosโespecially children and adolescentsโconsume food that is energy-dense but low in essential nutrients.
This growing concern is at the heart of the 51st Nutrition Month with the theme โFood at Nutrition Security, Maging Priority! Sapat na Pagkain, Karapatan Natin!โ The campaign supports the goals of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023โ2028, guided by its core message: โSa PPAN: Sama-sama Para sa Nutrisyong Sapat, Para sa Lahat!โ
With the campaign in full swing this July, the country is encouraged to focus on nutritional development and fight malnutrition. The primary objective of Nutrition Month is to educate everyone on the importance of a well-balanced diet and empower people to make good choices for their health.
Despite the ongoing efforts by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to address malnutrition in the country, the Philippines continues to struggle with health and nutrition issues according to UNICEF (2025). 26.7% of children under 5 are stunted, with some regions like Bangsamoro reaching 39%. Without access to proper nutrition, children are already at an onset disadvantage to live well, reach their full potential, and contribute to society. Strengthening healthcare for the youth is key if the Philippines wants to make the most of its future population.
Many Filipino families struggle to meet their nutritional needs, even with food readily available in stores and canteens. According to Unilab (2025), 1 in 3 Filipino children under the age of 5 is malnourished, largely due to extreme poverty and limited health education among parents. While some households have access to food, it is often not the kind that provides essential nutrients for growth and development. In many cases, cheaper, processed options are chosen over balanced meals, contributing to the countryโs ongoing double burden of malnutrition, where undernutrition and obesity exist side by side.
Nutrition security poses a significant challenge at the national level, particularly affecting students. Poor eating habits, whether due to limited access or lack of awareness, can lead to low energy, poor concentration, and long-term health complications that hinder academic performance and personal development. Recognizing this, the Philippine Science High School-SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus (PSHS-SRC) joins the nationwide observance of Nutrition Month by organizing activities that promote health literacy and responsible eating. These include seminars on proper nutrition, poster-making contests, and information drives aimed at helping students make more informed food choices.
As this yearโs theme reminds us, nutrition is more than just mealsโit is about ensuring access to food that sustains, nourishes, and empowers. Through education, awareness, and collective effort, the right to proper nutrition will be beyond a one-month campaignโitโll be a part of everyoneโs daily life.
โ๏ธ Dexielyn Amor C. Halog
๐จ Jeann Frances Khristy S. Pe
