Parents told to prepare food for own children

With the advent of the monsoon season, Councilor Edgardo Labella is urging the Department of Education to encourage parents of school children through the Parent Teachers Association to provide school children with clean and nutritious home-made "baon" to shield the children from food-borne diseases.

In a proposed resolution, Labella cited a survey result by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, which indicated that children who are exposed to food being sold by ambulant or sidewalk vendors are reportedly at a higher risk to contract certain food and water-borne diseases.

Food and water-borne diseases reportedly commonly affect school age children especially those between seven to 15 years old. However, Labella said that this can still be prevented.

"Among other things, the aforesaid food-borne diseases threatening the health of school children could easily be skirted by concerned parents by way of reviving the good old practice of preparing the 'baon' of their children" Labella said.

Aside from the fact that safe and clean water, food container and utensils are essential requirements for safe food preparation, Labella said that nutritious lunch and snacks will make up at least one third of a child's daily food requirements. - Joeberth M. Ocao