We do not need to read the data to know that despite numerous feeding programs, many Filipino children still suffer from malnutrition. Meanwhile obesity is also now prevalent among children and adults in the Philippines.
How can we be overweight and malnourished at the same time?
Because we are probably eating too much processed foods that have been stripped off of all the vitamins and minerals. Even those foods with labels that said they are “enriched with vitamins and minerals” may not be the right mix nor the right kind that’s best absorbed by the body.
The magic of biochemistry happens in our body when we get our vitamins and minerals from natural, whole foods (especially those we grow ourselves) just as nature intended it to be.
One tip my Go2Health coach gave me to help me decide what foods to pick: “If it is packaged and has a label, it is not real food.”
According to the 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), around a third of Filipino households cannot afford healthy food for their children. Not only that, Filipinos are being pushed to choose cheaper, easier to cook yet unhealthy food because of unregulated and excessive marketing targeting children and adults.
The EENS also reported that only 13.8 percent of Filipino children 6-23 months received the minimum acceptable diet for their optimal growth and development. This means more than 80 percent of Filipino children in their critical developmental stage do not have healthy diets.
The National Nutrition Council (NNC) advised that “adequate nutrition is crucial during critical periods like early childhood when proper nourishment supports optimal physical and cognitive development.”
When children eat healthy from the start, they are more likely to stay healthy. This will improve productivity, educational outcomes, and overall well-being. As a consequence, there will be lesser incidence of chronic diseases, premature deaths, and reduction in health care costs.
Eating healthy food solves many of our social problems. So why are we not doing it?
Because it is very hard with a broken food system.
A food system includes all the aspects of feeding and nourish people — growing, harvesting, packaging, processing, transporting, marketing, and consuming food.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) considers a food system sustainable when it provides sufficient nutritious food for all without compromising the health of the planet or the ability of future generations to meet their own food and nutritional needs.
The food system in the Philippines is not healthy and not sustainable. Most local communities live in “food desserts” (lacking fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy food) and in “food swamps” (filled with fast-food chains and stores selling highly processed foods).
As a result of this broken food system, more Filipinos are prematurely dying from heart attack, stroke, kidney diseases, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory infections, and pulmonary diseases. Yes, prematurely because these diseases are preventable and reversible with food.
Dr. Mark Hyman, Chair of the Food Fix Campaign based in the United States, revealed: “Scientists have discovered a powerful new drug that may help cure all chronic illnesses. It is a drug you take every day and can be found at the end of your fork. It’s called food.”
Yes, the “Food is Medicine” strategy is gaining momentum worldwide. In fact, U.S. health care is crafting food-based nutrition interventions to combat diet-related diseases.
Because the Philippines loves to follow whatever the U.S. is doing (good or bad), perhaps, this is one good thing we can copy.
Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions focus on increasing the access, affordability, availability, and consumption of healthy foods.
In the U.S., there are now health insurance that cover FIM therapy for sick patients. FIM vendors of medically-tailored meals or groceries are also expanding. In medical education, the U.S. House of Representatives recently adopted a bipartisan resolution calling for expanded, substantive nutrition education for doctors.
Closer to us, our neighbor Singapore has embarked on a Healthier SG program that focuses on increasing investments in preventive care and increasing incentives to businesses promoting healthy food. Under their Healthier Dining Program (HDP) started in 2014, Singapore encourages food and beverage businesses to provide healthier food and drink options by providing them with grants and support. The scheme was expanded in 2017 to include stalls and hawker centers and coffee shops. Another innovation implemented by Singapore to promote eating healthy food is the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) program where healthier food and drinks are labelled with an HCS logo.
But the U.S. and Singapore are richer nations compared to the Philippines. Sadly, going healthy these days comes with a price tag. What can our national and local government do now to start fixing our food system?
I have two suggestions we can do in Davao City right away.
One, expand the current feeding programs in schools to include all public school students (regardless of weight or nutritional deficiency status) and start subsidizing healthy meals in public elementary schools. Budget for this can be augmented by the Special Education Fund (SEF) and public-private partnerships. Farmers cooperatives can produce the organic vegetables and fruits and local restaurants and caterers can serve as commissaries to prepare and cook the food (they can get incentives for doing this). Local transport businesses can deliver the food to the schools. It takes a village to raise a child and our local government can do this now without any need for major policy changes.
Two, provide incentives to food-related businesses to offer healthier food choices. This may need a local ordinance or an executive order. This may be included as an amendment to the Davao City Investment Promotion Code. In addition to incentives, we can adopt a “Tatak Healthy” accreditation system by the City Nutrition Office to all food-related businesses, big or small. Those that will qualify can put the logo outside their establishments. Related to this, the city government can create a list of “Tatak Healthy” food suppliers an publish it so the local consumers will know.
Putting the burden on individuals to eat healthier may not be the way to do it. We must create the policy and physical environment to expand people’s choices to support their goal to live healthier lives. The key here is promoting access to healthier choices. And we can start now.
