Healthy walk, fruits and veggie fair kick off Nutrition Month celebration in Abra

By Maria Teresa B. Benas

Tuesday 3rd of July 2012

BANGUED, Abra, July 3 (PIA) -- Officials and employees of provincial and national government offices in the province joined the nation in celebrating the National Nutrition Month this July which kicked off here Monday with a healthy walk and fruit and veggie fair.

The healthy walk started at the Calaba Bridge in Mudeng, La Paz side and ended on the grounds of the provincial capitol in Bangued where a short program was held.

In his message, Governor Eustaquio P. Bersamin encouraged employees to appreciate the value of vegetables in their daily meals "if we want to maintain good health especially now that we have reached middle age and over." He also warned employees of eating too much pork and other foods that have cholesterol. Older people need not take much of these foods items, he said.

As chairman of the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC), Bersamin is fully aware of proper nutrition and how to attain this to promote better health condition.

On the other hand, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO), Dr. Leona Garcia-Beroña, presented the statistics on the health and nutrition status of the country and the province in particular that more and more people are eating less and less vegetables daily. She further discussed the required vegetable intake of an individual in order to maintain good health and be free of diseases that are related to poor lifestyle particularly in the choices and volume of daily food intake.

Another highlight was the veggie and fruit fair set up by the Provincial Nutrition Council to provide an opportunity for the employees to buy fruits and vegetables at specially discounted prices. The fruits and veggies were the products of the local farmers.

Meanwhile, the contest in gardening among schools will be validated within the month. Awarding of winners will be on July 26 during the culmination of the Nutrition Month celebration. (JDP/MTBB- PIA CAR, Abra)