LSG moms share big health tips on a small budget

MANILA, Philippines - In these difficult times, penny-pinching need not mean depriving your family of healthy, delicious food.

Even if grocery prices are getting higher, it’s good to know that inexpensive options for good nutrition are always on hand for the prudent and practical-minded. In fact, a lot of families get big on nutrition on a small budget, just by combining low-cost, wholesome ingredients with practical cooking habits and a simple, healthy lifestyle.

This finding surfaced during the moms’ sessions organized by the Laki sa Gatas (LSG) nutrition education advocacy as it tours public schools all over the country. Along with helping young students realize the importance of maintaining good nutrition and good education, the advocacy helps parents realize that they can give their families nutritious and delicious dishes even on a tight budget.

In these sessions, mothers share various tips on how not just to save, but also to serve food that gives the best in terms of health and enjoyment.

• Inexpensive ingredients can be used when preparing healthy dishes. Meatballs, for example, can be extended or substituted with tofu (or tokwa) and malunggay leaves.

• Likewise, seasonal vegetables and fruits like eggplant, tomatoes, and mangoes can be used as extender for the family’s meal.

• Expensive meat and chicken can be replaced with more affordable sources of protein, such as tiny shrimp, anchovies, and mung beans. North Luzon residents have been observed to use legumes in lieu of meat for their protein needs.

• Instead of giving soft drinks, one can buy fruits in season, blend it, and add Bear Brand powdered milk drink for a delicious, healthy, and affordable fruity milk shake.

When it comes to food preparation, almost all mothers agree on the following points:

• Prepare enough meals to cover not just lunch but also dinner.

• Store leftovers and serve them the second time around with a little twist to the recipe. Make a grocery list and stick to it to save time, effort, and money.

• Know in advance what the family members, especially picky kids, want to prevent food spoilage.

• Tend a mini vegetable farm in the backyard or idle land nearby, or be involved in barangay community vegetable nurseries where fresh produce can be bought cheaper or be given for free.

During the LSG sessions, a certified nutritionist also conducts lectures on Go, Grow and Glow basic food groups to teach moms the right food choices that are nutritious and affordable.

According to Jasmin Estacio, consumer marketing manager for Bear Brand, these sessions with moms play an important role in advancing the objective of the Laki sa Gatas nutrition education advocacy.

“Mothers are the key for the family to gain good food and nutrition, especially for young children who need to grow healthy so they can have the physical and mental capability to keep their high performance in school,” says Estacio.

“The growing number of mothers who take part in our advocacy shows their commitment to provide the best for their kids’ future,” she adds.

Launched in 2006, the Laki sa Gatas advocacy has reached out to more than one million moms and over two million kids in more than 4,020 elementary public schools nationwide.