A culture drinking milk

CEBU, Philippines – Milk is an essential part of every child's diet. But did you know that there are still children who cannot afford to drink even a glass of milk everyday?

It's either their parents failed to reinforce the habit of milk drinking in the family be-cause of wrong priorities like buying cheap fizz products, or that they got carried away by the false impressions - of being healthy - created by other beverages like processed juice drinks.

Because it is important that school-age kids should drink not just one but two glasses of milk everyday, the Laki sa Gatas Nutrition Education Advocacy initiated a Moms Nu-trition Forum at the Mabolo Elementary School last October 20 with the presence of 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman (as one of four milk ambassadors of Bear Brand) to share insights as to how better nutrition and better education help her in pursu-ing and achieving her dreams.

"Alam nyo po nong bata pa po ako, gusto kong maging archeologist. Tapos gusto kong maging astronaut. Then, gusto ko namang maging doktor. Pero ang pinakagusto ko po ay maging beauty queen. Kaso lang sobra akong mahiyain, tinutukso akong payatot, teng-teng dahil malaki tenga ko, putok ang labi, pangit dahil usli ang ngipin ko," Ate Precious shared.

"Pero hindi po ako nagpadala sa discouragements nila. Kasi po naniniwala po ako na walang imposible basta't positibo ang pananaw mo sa buhay, at siyempre malusog ka da-hil laki ka sa gatas," she added.

It was pointed out by nutritionist Cynthia Elisan that mothers should make the right food choices for their families without stretching their budget, and ensure that basic nu-trients are made part of their children's daily diet through, among other things, milk-drinking.

To empower these mommies of Grades 2 and 3 pupils, they were taught how to pre-pare meal plans highlighting Energy-Giving Foods (carbohydrates) to make children "go", Body-Building Foods (protein) to make children "grow", and Body-Regulating Foods (vitamins and minerals) to make children "glow"; as well as to inculcate among their children a culture of drinking Bear Brand (three tablespoons per glass twice a day) to counter deficiencies in zinc, iron and vitamin C.

After that, Ate Precious joined the pupils at the Don Bernardo Benedicto Cultural Cen-ter for the "Ambition Glasses" session wherein kids drew on a piece of paper what they would want to be in the future. These drawings of their ambition in life were inserted around the drinking glasses to serve as a reminder that they are never too far from their dreams if they stay strong and healthy.

Some want to be policemen. Another said he would want to be president of this coun-try. Others would want to serve as nurses to the community, but most raised their hands when Ate Precious asked who among them dreams of becoming an "artista."

According to her, good health allows children to study well and participate actively in school activities. "Kapag may tibay ng katawan at isipan, may mararating talaga kayo sa buhay," assured Ate Precious.