In 2010 a US law was passed and signed by then President
Barack Obama-the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). Championed
by First Lady Michelle Obama, the HHFKA set new nutrition standards for school
meals while expanding access to taxpayer-funded breakfast and lunch to millions
of students.
After 7 years, come the Philippine version.
After 7 years, come the Philippine version.
 | |
| different mouth watering delights that can be seen in different schools in the country |
Out with
soft drinks, powdered juice drinks,palamig, fish balls, kwek kwek, calamares,
and other mouth watering and satisfying deep fried snacks.
In with healthy alternatives like
unsweetened milk, fresh buko juice(w/out the magic sugar), boiled peanuts and
bananas in all public schools.
Department of Education Secretary
Leonor Briones ordered last week to promote “long-lasting benefits” of a
healthier diet and improved eating habits of students, teachers and Department
of Education personnel.
The March 17 memorandum would keep
away fat-laden, sugary and high-sodium foods from canteens in all public
elementary and high schools and DepEd offices to combat malnutrition and
obesity among students.
In 2014 National Nutrition
Survey by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute showed that 29.1 percent
of Filipino children aged 5 to 10 were underweight while 9.1 percent were
overweight.
The food policy was also in response
to a recent workshop of the World Health Organization, which urged countries to
restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods in schools and setting food standards
to increase availability and accessibility of healthy options.
Not NEW
During the Marcos era, kids in
public schools grew up eating/enjoying Nutribun. The Nutribun program
was implemented in the early 1970s as a supplementary feeding program for
targeted public elementary
schools.
 |
| Marcos era nutribun (photo credit to the owner) |
“masarap na , mura pa!” will be probably the answer of one childhood memory who will recall his/her memories of the pastry delight. It was initially distributed for free, but was eventually sold at about 50 to 75 cents per piece.
The bun can be mistaken for a pan de sal, only difference will be its more healthier.The bread was made of blend flour and non-fat dried milk donated by the United States under the PL 480 Title II Food Aid. It was under the USAID Food for Peace Program.
The nutribun program was phased out in 1997, The US finding that there are other countries that are in more need of food aid, like those countries in Africa.
0 comments