The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) urged parents and schools to promote and adhere to the healthy snacks and lunch or “baon” for children as recommended by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).
The PHA issued the statement in relation to its Heart Health Chart and 52100 healthy lifestyle code. This translates to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, not more than 2 grams of added salt, 1 hour of exercise, 0 sugared drinks and 0 smoking.
According to PHA, parents should use the DOST-FNRI’s ‘Pinggang Pinoy’ as guide.
In an episode of the PHA ‘Usapang Puso sa Puso’ (UPP) themed “Puso, Pasukan, Tag-Ulan,” held last Sept. 11, pediatric cardiologist Dr. Ceres Paulino Canto emphasized the key roles that school and homes play in the promotion of healthy eating at home and in school.
She described ‘Pinggang Pinoy’ as a “very simple” visual aid to show the right proportion of the dish, explaining that fruits and vegetables that belong to the Glow food category should consume half of the plate, while the other half should be allotted to both the Go and Grow foods category.
The PHA emphasized that fast food, junk food, processed food, and sweetened beverages are not good for cardiovascular health. Therefore, they should be off the shelf of school canteens or cafeterias and on every mother’s grocery list.
For older kids and adults, five servings of fruits and vegetables per day is the PHA’s recommendation. It also acknowledged that while home-cooked meals take time to prepare, these are more worth it than ready-made lunch or snacks.
Canto also reminded parents and the members of the family to “lead by example,” in order for them to educate the children with the benefits of proper nutrition.
PHA Director and Advocacy Committee chairperson Dr. Avenilo Aventura, the UPP episode’s host, added that the involvement of home, clinic, and school in nurturing the child’s health is crucial. He assumed his post as executive director of the Philippine Heart Center in June 2024.
“Healthy lifestyle begins at home. In the same manner, schools play a crucial role in enhancing the knowledge and practice of children concerning healthy lifestyle. It really takes a village to create healthy food milieus and raise heart healthy children,” Aventura said.
‘Heart health’ tips for younger kids
For children aged three to five years old, the PHA Heart Health Chart suggests two to three cups of vegetables and fruits a day, while sleep time should be between 10 to 13 hours, with a screen time of one hour used for quality programs.
Meanwhile, for children aged six to 12 years old, three to four cups of vegetables and fruits should be taken in, while sleep time should be at least nine to 12 hours with a screen time for leisure in two hours, said PHA. A one-hour moderate to vigorous exercise per day should be done.
For adolescents, four to five cups of vegetables and fruits should be eaten, and smoking, as well as alcohol are prohibited.
According to the PHA, adolescents must get eight to 10 hours of sleep with a two-hour leisure time, and one-hour moderate to vigorous exercise a day.
Call on the government to address obesity, malnutrition
Both Aventura and Canto called on the local governments and the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that the law regulating the production of nutritious food in school canteens is being enforced and complied with.
DepEd Order 13, s. 2017 entitled “Policy and Guidelines on Healthy Food and Beverage Choices in Schools and in DepEd Offices” aims to ensure promotion and development of healthy eating habits among youth and DepEd employees.
According to Canto, regular consumption of unhealthy fare like processed food, fast food, sugared beverages can cause obesity and malnutrition, which can lead to a range of non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular problems.
The PHA stressed the benefits of preventing and managing obesity from childhood to adulthood through a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and care.
“A healthy home should be a family business. The school, which is considered as every student’s second home, should be kept both as a healthy environment and cradle of learning,” Aventura said.
Meanwhile, in 2018, the PHA lobbied for an amendment on the food label, relocating the printing of the total calorie count in front of the product label in bold and larger fonts, whether the product is bottled, canned or in plastic containers, as “a step toward encouraging healthier eating habits among kids and lowering their risk of developing diabetes.”
