NAGSAGAWA ng event ang EcoWaste Coalition kung saan ibinida nila ang mga masusustansiya baon na pasok sa budget, ayon sa ulat ng Philippines News Agency (PNA).

Ito ay paraan upang maiwasan ang pagkakasakit dahil sa sobrang timbang at labis na katabaan ng mga estudyante.

Ang “back-to-school” event ay tinawag na “Healthy Baon, Healthy Bata, Healthy Eswela” ay idinaos sa Sto. Cristo Elementary School sa Quezon City at itinampok ang masusustansiyang pagkain at inumin na inihanda ng Edukasyong Pangtahanan at Pangkabuhayan teachers ng nasabing pampublikong paaralan.

Kabilang sa mga pagkain ay ang burger patty na gawa sa ginadgad na puso ng saging, carrots at dinikdik na dahon ng malunggay; pancake na sinamahan ng dinurog na kalabasa, sabaw ng buko at katas ng malunggay; at spring roll na may ginadgad na kamote at binudburan ng malunggay.

Para sa mas masustansiyang inumin, gumawa ang mga guro ng mga inuming Pinoy gaya ng malunggay, kalamansi at tanglad juice, guava juice at talbos ng kamote juice.

“We have staged this event to stir up interest and support for healthy school snacks and drinks as a way of reducing children’s consumption of junk food that are high in fat, sugar and salt, which can lead to overweight and obesity problems at an early age,” ayon kay Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator ng EcoWaste Coalition.

“Obese children are likely to stay obese later in life and are likely to suffer from related non-communicable diseases, hence the need to actively promote healthier foods, as well as regular physical activities, among our kids,” diin niya.

Gaya ng kinumpirma ng World Health Organization (WHO), “childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood. But in addition to increased future risks, obese children experience breathing difficulties, increased risk of fractures, hypertension, early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and psychological effects.”

Batay sa mga datos ng 8th National Nutrition Survey na isinagawa ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), ipinahayag ng EcoWaste Coalition ang kanilang pagkabahala sa tumataas na bilang ng mga Pilipinong overweight at obese mula 16.6 porsiyento noong 1993 na naging 31.1 porsiyento noong 2013.

Tulad ng ipinahayag ng FNRI, “creating a healthy food environment starts at home and school as they remain the largest sources of food access for children.”