Parents Urged to Lead by Example in Promoting Healthy Eating
Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children’s eating habits, a healthy food advocate in Baguio City emphasized, urging families to model nutritious lifestyles at home.
Elmer Macalingay, a plant-based food practitioner and advocate of the Slow Food movement, said children’s food preferences are largely influenced by what they see from their parents.
“As parents, we teach by example,” Macalingay said. “Involving children in growing backyard food helps them appreciate vegetables and healthier choices.”
He noted that preparing nutritious meals can be simple and affordable, adding that variety is key to making healthy food appealing to children. Meals can be sautéed, steamed, or served as salads, while creative preparation can encourage kids to enjoy what they eat.
The Slow Food movement promotes “good, clean, and fair” food by preserving local culinary traditions, protecting biodiversity, and encouraging sustainable food systems as an alternative to industrialized food production.
During the 5th Regional Philippine Association of Agriculturists conference, supervising agriculturist Rowena Gonnay of Pasil, Kalinga highlighted that adopting slow food practices also supports environmental protection and food sustainability.
She explained that the concept encourages using locally grown, naturally available ingredients to create simple, nutritious meals.
Meanwhile, Dr. Aida Pagtan of the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera stressed the importance of responsible farming practices. She said the agency promotes not only organic agriculture but also Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), which discourage the improper use of fertilizers and pesticides and ensure clean and safe food production.
“Healthy food is not only about what we eat but also how it is produced,” she said, noting that transitioning to organic farming takes time, making GAP a practical alternative for many farmers.
Nutritionist Carol Domicog also underscored the benefits of homegrown food, sharing that she cultivates organic vegetables and raises chickens in her backyard to provide safe and nutritious meals for her family.
She added that adopting healthier food choices goes hand in hand with a broader lifestyle change, reinforcing the link between diet and overall well-being.
NPO News Team - Philippine News Agency - PR
