The country will observe Nutrition Month this July. This takes on added significance especially now that we find ourselves mired in an economic bog brought about by a vicious cycle of price increases spurred by runaway oil prices. With everything inching beyond our budget’s reach, we are forced to compromise with the most modifiable commodity of daily life — food and, essentially, proper nutrition.

What makes it sadder is, when there is insufficient food on the table, the little ones among us, our children, are often the ones who suffer the most. Growing up requires eating ample portions of the proper food — carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, along with micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. As it is, many children go hungry and become malnourished.

Whenever possible, therefore, every effort must be exerted to see to it that our children do not have to go through such privation.

The importance of proper nutrition should be ingrained in all — a good diet will have beneficial effects on one’s health, preventing growth deformities and common diseases like beriberi, diabetes, and heart disease. And it should be afforded to all children, especially our school children. How our youth grow up and develop to become upright and productive members of society depends in large part on what they eat. A well-fed child would have the attributes to absorb and develop all the necessary knowledge and skills to subsist.

Developed countries see the value of having a ‘school lunch program’ subsidized by their governments. But as ours seems incapable, even if just to assure a stable rice  supply, other sectors willing to be tapped should generously step in and adopt day care  centers or schools they deem in need of a feeding program. A lot of socio-civic organizations out there are in search of a worthwhile project. Would feeding and developing future pillars of society interest you?

You might not be able to feed them all but we do know what a few loaves and fishes could do.