“If you want to live long, plant your own vegetables at home.”

This is what Department of Agriculture-7 Chief Crops Division George Paculba encouraged in celebration of July as National Nutrition Month.

“It is a running joke that if you want to die young, you eat vegetables; but if you want to live long, you plant your own vegetables and eat it safe,” jokingly said by Paculba who was referring to the pesticides used by farmers on their produce which proved to be negatively affecting consumers’ health.

“If you plant your own vegetables, you would know what you are eating. It doesn’t take a big yard for one to grow vegetables in their homes, some pots and large cans will do even in the big city. DA-7 continues to offer free orientation-seminars on Fridays to anybody interested to learn more about modern farming techniques even in the urban areas to address also the problem of malnutrition,” said Paculba.

The National Nutrition Council (NNC) has reported a dramatic 20% reduction rate in vegetable intake among Filipinos in year 2005 to which Paculba strongly campaigned for all to be health conscious and not depend much on readily available food containing either too much fat or too much sugar.

“Though the agency is trying to address this problem as a group, I for one is encouraging that we should start at home and prepare healthy and nutritious food consisting of fruits and vegetables for our children,” campaigned Paculba.

NNC reports another concern affecting children’s nutrition is the intake of foods that are high in fat and sugar but low in nutrients attributed which is easily attributed to the rising number of fastfoods, restaurants and eventually affecting the food-preference-intake of consumers these days.

“Expensive intervention of readily available food supplements which are synthetic, like vitamins in capsules among others, don’t come close to the abundant nutrients fruits and vegetables provide to our body,” said Paculba.

Addressing the nationwide problem on Filipinos’ decreased vegetable consumption, is tackled in a 3-day seminar-workshop for the members of the council facilitated by the NNC-7 headed by Regional Nutrition Coordinator Parolita Mission at Danao City, Cebu which ends today. (gfg/PIA)