Think OrganIQ July 2015 Issue

Organic Living with Bianca Araneta-Elizalde

The Holistic Experience with Hindy Weber-Tantoco

Moms on Organic

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Going Organic with Amanda Griffin-Jacob

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July - September 2015

CONTENTS

2 Milk and Allergies

BY Dr. Ceferina Dayoan

8 Adverse Effects of Pesticides on Brain Development of Young Filipino Children

BY Dr. Enrique Ostrea

15 Organic Moms, featuring Amanda Griffin-Jacob Bianca Araneta-Elizalde Hindy Weber-Tantoco

BY Ronna Capili Bonifacio

24 Why Moms Love HiPP Organic Kindermilk

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How to Protect Your Child From Early Puberty

What’s your most memorable Dr. Edwards moment? We asked moms, and here’s what they said

BY Marilen Faustino-Montenegro

26 Building a taste for health

BY Tricel Nava-de Guzman

AMANDA GRIFFIN-JACOB COVER IMAGE BY STANLEY ONG

EDITOR’S NOTE We are passionate about organic nutrition, and we think every parent should be, too! We firmly believe that when parents are armed with the right knowledge—knowing what we know­—there is no disagreement that organic nutrition is one of the single most useful thing parents can do to give their children a good start in life. This issue, organic nutrition ambassadors Amanda Griffin-Jacob, Bianca Araneta-Elizalde and Hindy Weber-Tantoco ardently share why they have fully embraced organic nutrition for their family. These smart moms are very concerned and give a lot of thought to nutrition for their children. In addition, we share a clinical study done in the Philippines on the adverse impact of pesticide exposure on children’s development. A medical doctor also shares her own clinical experience on a patient’s struggle with allergy symptoms and how organic nutrition has helped alleviate the problem. We hope that this issue is helpful to parents in helping them decide and transition to a fully organic nutrition.

GENERAL MANAGER: MARICAR R. YABYABIN SUPERVISING EDITOR: MARIANNE NATU-EL GRAPHIC DESIGNER: PATRICK GOLOY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: RONNA CAPILI BONIFACIO, MARILEN FAUSTINO-MONTENEGRO, TRICEL NAVA-DE GUZMAN CONTRIBUTING EXPERTS AND MEDICAL DOCTORS: DR. CEFERINA DAYOAN, DR. ENRIQUE OSTREA COORDINATOR FOR MEDICAL: DANG GILERA ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: ARIANNE SOLIS, KRISTINE MANAGBANAG

3rd Floor, BCS Prime Building 2297 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City 1231 No portion of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or republished in any language, in any form, or by any means (electronic, photocopy, etc.) without written permission from the publisher. It is designed to use as a reference guide and not a substitute for regular professional healthcare and consultation.

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There is no ‘one size fits all’ treatment for skin diseases

The allergy challenge

By Dr. Ceferina dayoan

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promising, only to come back after a few days bearing the same intensity if not a little worse than before. It was a medical doctor’s dilemma.

And so, he was referred by his pediatrician to me, hence his visit. I requested several laboratory and diagnostic examinations. A fungal examination (a KOH test) was done. It was negative.

All blood work-ups were unremarkable. I suggested a skin biopsy but the patient’s mother refused.

What else could I do?

The child was literally scratching his skin off. My plan was to stop all topical and oral medications—he had been on them too long, with no remarkable response—and continue to apply the hypoallergenic moisturizers.

Finally, he had to start on a hypoallergenic diet, meaning no eggs, cheese, seafood, wheat, berries, processed foods, artificial food colorants, nuts, to avoid the possibility of food allergy. “But C.H. doesn’t eat any of these, doctor. He just drinks milk and rice porridge and

IMAGE BY image point fr/shutterstock.com

C.H. my one-year and 11-month old male patient came to see me because of a skin rash on the left side of his abdomen. “Help us, his skin is getting worse, you’re the third one we will see,” cried my patient’s mother. The rash, or rather rashes, were intensely red, in various shapes, rough to touch, dry, and slightly elevated, covering the right side of his abdomen extending up to the borders of his rib cage. The patient was also scratching during his visit. Upon examination, my initial impression was that of an eczematous type of skin lesion.

For almost three months, C.H. received a multitude of treatments from different doctors before they came to see me. He was treated with steroid cream of varying potencies, oral and topical antibiotics, emollients, antifungals, and a hospital admission.

According to his mother, little relief was noted in his condition from all of the treatments given.

At most, the improvement of the skin lesion seemed

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IMAGE BY image point fr/shutterstock.com

BEFORE

AFTER

a little bit of meat, but mostly milk,” said his mother. Milk, mostly milk. Aha! There I saw the first ray of hope for possible treatment.

Without a doubt, breast milk’s health benefits are superior in all measurable and immeasurable ways. However C.H. had been weaned from breastmilk over six months previous. I then decided to shift him to organic milk appropriate for his age.

We continued with the hypoallergenic emollients and restricted the use of perfumed laundry products, including detergents and fabric conditioners. They came back after two weeks.

Instead of scratching throughout the entire visit, C.H. spent the visit playing with the sliding door.

It could have been the emollients, it could have been the organic milk, it could have been both.

But it worked. C.H., after two weeks, spent most of his time opening and closing the sliding door of the consultation room instead of scratching his skin off. The mother was smiling as well. And yes, I was too. There is no ‘one size fits all’ treatment for skin disease. We have to dig for aggravating or contributory factors. It is always important to

individualize our treatment plans. And second, that nutrition is most essential to healing.

After all, the father of medicine Hippocrates once said, “let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” According to CDC (Center for Disease Control), 4 out of 100 children have food allergies. The most common allergy causing food in children are milk and eggs. It is important to know the sources of food we eat and feed our children with. We always have a choice with food.

And yes we do not live to eat, but rather eat to live. Choose well.

Sources: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db10.htm, http://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stat

Dr. Ceferina Dayoan specializes in Clinical and Cosmetic Dermatology.

She is a member of the Philippine Association of Primary Skin Health Physicians and of the World Society of Interdisciplinary Anti-aging Medicine.

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Why choose Organic?

MOMS CHOOSE ORGANIC NUTRITION TO GIVE CHILDREN A GOOD START IN LIFE.

“Our young ones are more vulnerable to the toxic and damaging effects of chemical pesticides when their brains, nervous systems and organs are still developing.”

“As a responsible mother, I want to know what is in the food I give my children including the best ways to nourish them” HINDY WEBER-TANTOCO, founder of Holy Carabao Farm

AMANDA GRIFFIN-JACOB, TV host, model, mom blogger

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“We strive to minimize our exposure to harmful chemicals especially through the food we eat.”

BIANCA ARANETA-ELIZALDE, owner of The Wholesome Table, model

“We believe in starting our children on a path of good nutrition from the beginning to give them a better quality of life.”

CAT JUAN-LEDESMA, model, lifestyle blogger

“It really pays to be informed about the harmful effects of chemicals on the food we eat and give our children.”

MARILEN FAUSTINO-MONTENEGRO, interior designer, model

“We are stewards of our bodies, our children, and the world we live in. Organic options provide a better way to be good stewards and that’s what I want to be.”

JOY TANCHI-MENDOZA, mom blogger

Organic Milk and Food for Children Available at all

branches nationwide.

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Why choose organic?

Experts recommend organic nutrition because every child deserves a good start in life.

“One of the most effective ways to reduce exposure to toxic substances is to eat organic food. It could be one of the single most useful thing a mother can do to give her child a good start in life.�

VYVYAN HOWARD, MD Medical Toxico-pathologist, University of Ulster, UK

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Know What’s In Your Food

Harmful Food Substances Pesticides Affect Brain Development Can Trigger Asthma Attacks

“The importance of a healthy lifestyle and correct selection of the food we eat and products we use have an important role to play in determining the level of health we attain and provide for our children. We have to increase our knowledge of how the produce we consume are raised or grown. Check what possible chemicals were used and whenever possible choose better options and avoid compromising our health and that of our loved ones.”

“Studies have demonstrated that pesticide exposure harms the brain and nervous system. Many of the processes that occur during brain development are vulnerable to disruption from pesticides. Dietary modifications can help lessen pesticide exposure. Consuming organic produce has shown a reduced amount of urinary pesticide levels in comparison with a conventional diet. It is very likely that with the reduction in pesticide exposure through organic produce, we will have better outcomes for health and development in children.”

LAURA SOLEDAD AGUINALDO,

FRANCIS XAVIER DIMALANTA,

Pediatrician and Clinical Toxicologist

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician

MD,DPPS, DPSCOT

MD, FPPS, FPSDBP

Organic Milk and Food for Children Available at all

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“Modification in nutrition, by promoting consumption of organic food does away with the detrimental side effects of additives and chemicals in our body and may decrease the over-reliance to pharmacologic agents in controlling asthma.

Asthma medications should be supplemented with a good nutrition, which can be found in organic food. These kinds of food do not have food additives and chemicals which can add to the body’s toxic burden and trigger asthma attacks.”

MARIA TERESITA SANDOVAL, MD, FPPS

Pediatric Pulmonologist

branches nationwide.

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Adverse Effects of Pesticides on Brain Development of Young Filipino Children

By Dr. enrique ostrea

IMAGE BY gpointstudio; opposite page image by Sasilssolutions / both shutterstock.com

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baby’s first smile. A baby’s first word. A baby’s first balancing acts of standing and walking. These are milestones that parents look forward to. All these markers relate to a child’s brain development. Brain development starts while in the mother’s womb. Good nutrition plays a critical role in fetal brain development. On the other hand, some substances like cigarettes and alcohol can adversely affect their development.

A recent local study has revealed that prenatal exposure to pesticides is associated with poorer brain development in children. Surveying 754 pregnant women, it showed that pesticides persist in the fetus, and such exposure is associated with poorer brain development.

August 2012. In the study, a total of 793 pregnant women during their mid-pregnancy were recruited in 2002. Analysis of maternal hair and blood, infant’s hair, cord blood and meconium (infant’s first stool) showed that these women were exposed to pesticides during their pregnancy, and that such exposure is passed on to the fetus up to birth. The highest rate of exposure was particularly significant from pesticides used at home, such as carbamates (propoxur at 21 percent) and pyrethroids (at 2.5 percent) found in the infant’s meconium, the most sensitive biomarker of fetal exposure to pesticides.

Children exposed to pesticides show poorer motor development

Early motor development is usually what parents watch out for on their children: baby’s grasp Filipinos are used to on mother’s finger, first using spray pesticides to time to crawl, stand, and ward off insects at home. walk. Pesticide exposure Unseen, and sometimes is shown to hamper brain Pesticide exposure is delayed onset of adverse development, particularly effects actually come with motor development. shown to hamper brain it. Pregnant women are at At two years of age, development, particularly infants exposed prenatally most risk with the exposure. to pesticides were examined A local study on the effect motor development. for neurodevelopmental of pesticide exposure outcome using three among pregnant women was done in Bulacan, an factors from Griffith’s agro-industrial province Mental Developmental in the Philippines. A preliminary survey of the Scale: locomotor (including balance and study area showed predominant use of pesticides coordination of movements), social and language, at home or in the farm. and performance (visuospatial skills and reaction I conducted a two-year study entitled, time). There were no significant differences “Fetal exposure to propoxur and abnormal child found on potential confounders to a child’s neurodevelopment, such as infant’s gender, development at two years of age,” funded by the maternal intelligence, stimulation, and socioUnited States National Institute of Health (NIH), economic status. Exposure to pesticides is singled which was published in Neurotoxicology journal in

Pesticide exposure of pregnant Filipino mothers

IMAGE BY gpointstudio; opposite page image by Sasilssolutions / both shutterstock.com

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What can parents do?

This is the first study to show the adverse effects of carbamate pesticides on neurodevelopment. Whereas, another group of pesticides, organophosphates, (commonly used in farm produce) have several studies showing lower mental development scores.

Both pesticide groups have similar actions, however, the toxicity of carbamates tend to be of shorter duration than organophosphates. As these pesticides

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are widespread, and persist in both the environment and in the food we eat, it is crucial that parents provide a safe environment and serve food that is free of pesticides.

Young children are the most vulnerable to the risk of chemical substances because of their underdeveloped organs. Pesticides are known neurotoxicants, and the brain of the fetus and infants are vulnerable to these toxicants due to the rapid development of their brain.

ABOUT THE STUDY AUTHOR Dr. Enrique “Buddy” Ostrea is a Filipino Neonatologist, a visiting consultant at UP-PGH , and a Professor of Pediatrics in Wayne State University in Michigan.

He was acclaimed five times as one of 500 Best Doctors in America. He is also a Pamana ng Filipino awardee, given by the President of the Philippines. He is known for his invention of the Mectest, a testing kit to analyze an infant’s first stool after birth to find the infant’s exposure to drugs and alcohol while still in a mother’s womb. Recently, Dr. Ostrea is venturing into introducing the Philippine-made OstreaVent, a ventilator that helps to mechanically breathe air into and out of the lungs to help premature infants.

IMAGE BY ANURAK PONGPATIMET/shutterstock.com

out to significantly link to low scores on motor skills of the exposed group. Children prenatally exposed to pesticides showed an adverse effect on motor skills compared to those unexposed, with significantly lower scores compared to the average two-year old Filipino child.

Motor development is one of the earliest to develop in children. This may be why adverse effects of prenatal exposure to pesticide is significantly evident in a child’s motor skills. Motor development is important as it may influence performance in cognitive, social and performance domains, especially in at-risk populations.

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How to Protect Your Child From Early Puberty

By MARILEN FAUSTINO-MONTENEGRO

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arly puberty, medically known as precocious puberty, is the appearance of secondary sex characteristics like breast development, and pubic hair before the age of eight. It is also the cause of early onset menstruation before nine years old. During the 19th century, the onset of monthly periods began at the age of 15. Today the average onset is 12 years old, but statistics show that more girls are getting them at the alarming age of seven to nine.

We do know that this was not the norm 10 years ago and research has linked several factors to the cause of early puberty.

Maturing too early can cause several problems like emotional issues, self-esteem problems, depression, excessive alcohol use and early loss of virginity.

Some studies even suggest that this can cause

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cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes when these children grow older. Educating ourselves on the causes and empowering ourselves to make changes in our family’s lifestyle can help prevent this from happening to your children.

What Contributes to Early Puberty?

Endocrine disrupters are substances that mimic estrogen and are found in food and products like pesticide, metal and personal care products.

They are known as “genderbending” chemicals.

According to the World Health Organization, “endocrine disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, have been suspected to be associated with altered reproductive function in males and females, increased incidence of breast cancer, abnormal growth patterns and neurodevelopmental delays in children, as well as changes in immune function.”

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Buy organic produce, organic eggs and meat as much as possible.

Commercial chicken and beef are injected with estrogen which disrupts our hormones.

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Products that are considered to be Endocrine Disruptors:

1. Bisphenol A (BPA): An industrial chemical that is considered a synthetic estrogen. It is found in most plastic containers, dental sealants, cash register receipts and canned food containers.

2. Phthalates: An industrial chemical found in processed food packaging, laundry detergent and softeners, shampoo, soap, nail polish and other personal care products.

3. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA): A harmful product found in non-stick cookware 4. Paraben esters: Chemicals that have estrogen-like properties and have been linked to breast cancer. They are found in most personal care products like deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, lotion and even in some pharmaceutical medicine.

5. Heavy metals: Lead, aluminum, antimony, copper, arsenite, mercury, barium, nickel, cadmium, selenite, chromium, tin, cobalt, and vanadate.

6. Non-fermented soy products: These hide under the names yeast extract, soy protein, soybean oil, soy lecithin, and soy flour.

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Marilen Faustino Montenegro is a mother of two children, ages 3 and 5. She is an interior stylist and has completed numerous residential and commercial projects in her 10 years of practice. She is also a model and TV personality, with stints on ABC5, QTV11 and the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Philippines. She also hosts events, talks, and workshops about design and the home. Her blog, Marilen.ph, features interior design and home inspirations as well as some tidbits about her children and their healthy lifestyle.

all IMAGEs BY MJTH / shutterstock.com

This research has been alarming for me and I was reminded of the importance to be selective about the food, personal care, and house cleaning products I use. I want to protect my family from harmful substances that can cause early puberty and worse, life threatening disease. Here are tips on how we can make things safer for our children: 1. Buy organic produce and organic eggs and meat as much as possible. Commercial chicken and beef are injected with estrogen which disrupts our hormones that may

cause early puberty.

2. Try to consume mostly raw fresh food. Avoid buying any pre-packed food that has been stored in containers high in Bisphenol A and Phthalates.

3. Avoid using aluminum foil and plastic wrap.

4. Use glass for drinking and food containers instead of plastic or go for high grade stainless steel or certified BPA-free plastic.

5. Avoid canned goods as much as you can or search for those labeled BPA and phthalate-free.

6. Replace all non-stick pans and cookware with ceramic or glass.

7. Make sure your baby’s feeding utensils, pacifiers and toys are BPA-free.

8. Look for natural and organic personal care products and makeup.

This includes lotion, shampoo, soap, deodorant, baby wash, sunscreen, and even toothpaste.

9. Use natural cleaning products and avoid using phthalates. Avoid using air fresheners, fertilizers, laundry softeners, and insect sprays.

10. Avoid non fermented soy. Avoid soy milk, soy burgers, and veggie meat.

11. Use fabric shower curtains instead of those made from plastic and vinyl.

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Organic moms

BY RONNA CAPILI BONIFACIO

For Bianca Araneta-Elizalde, Amanda Griffin-Jacob, and Hindy Weber-Tantoco, eating healthy and green is not a trend, it is the only way to live.

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“Babies and children are more at risk from the toxic effects of pesticides than adults due to many factors that include their developing brains, nervous systems, and organs.”

AMANDA GRIFFIN-JACOB PHOTO BY STANLEY ONG

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Going organic Amanda Griffin-Jacob

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AMANDA GRIFFIN-JACOB PHOTO BY STANLEY ONG

t was during her first pregnancy with her eldest son, Kieran, when Amanda Griffin-Jacob turned to the green lifestyle. It all started because she was researching on what would be best for her unborn child’s development, which eventually lead to the complete change for her then growing family.

Six years later and a mom of three, this wife, model, author, host, and Glam-o-Mamas website founder, Amanda says clean living is a requirement, not a luxury. She found that toxins, pesticides, and chemicals in non-organic vegetables and meats can be unsafe for babies in utero and children’s immature immune systems.

Amanda is a vegetarian, and she is also raising her children to become vegetarian despite others’ comments and concerns because she feels that if it’s not healthy enough for her, why would she serve it to her kids? “I’m under no illusion that my children may grow up to be carnivores, and if that’s what they want, it is 100% their decision. I will support them whatever they choose,” she writes in her site.

Going meat-less was a personal choice she made both for health and

“I want to provide a healthy nutrient-dense foundation... This doesn’t just mean veggies; it means organic and minimal processed or junk food.” morality reasons. “For now, I want to provide a healthy nutrient-dense foundation for their development. This doesn’t just mean veggies; it means organic and minimal processed or junk food. I believe that if you train a child’s palate from the beginning to appreciate healthy, whole, unadulterated foods then they will always look for them as part of their meals.

Raising healthy eaters is really the end goal,” she writes. Amanda adds, “Yes, organic usually equates to a heftier shopping bill. But organic nutrition is an investment in your family’s long-term health. And there is truly no price tag on that.”

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Organic living Bianca Araneta-Elizalde

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part from being a breastfeeding advocate, green living and an organic lifestyle are Bianca Araneta Elizalde’s other advocacies.

Her family has adopted the lifestyle for ten years and she confesses that they have seen its positive payoff. “As much as possible, we strive to minimize our exposure to toxins especially through the food we eat. We’ve been living this way for over a decade now and definitely feel the effects of eating clean,” she says.

Her passion has recently caused her to open The Wholesome Table, a popular organic restaurant which serves comfort food. When it came to co-authoring Project Mom with Amanda Griffin-Jacob, she penned the chapter on healthy living.

Bianca is so passionate about organic living that she originally only wanted to write a book if it was going to promote that lifestyle. Her chapter teaches mothers in the Philippines how to sustain the choice and that it is possible, because she observed that many want to commit but just don’t know how and where to begin.

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“I’ve always believed that there is perhaps nothing in this world that is more vital to your health than the food you eat.”

When it comes to her own three children, Bianca says teaching them the reason behind eating clean is the best way to train them rather than merely saying yes to certain foods and no to other foods. Her children also know how to read food labels for themselves.

“I’ve always believed that there is perhaps nothing in this world that is more vital to your health than the food you eat. Food is so powerful—it heals you, nourishes you and gives you the fuel you need to live so it’s really important to choose the best quality ingredients,” says Bianca.

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The holistic experience Hindy Weber-Tantoco

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efore it was even trendy to live a healthier lifestyle and eat organic, fashion designer Hindy Weber-Tantoco and her family made the big shift. They packed their bags, said goodbye to the city life, and moved to Sta. Rosa where they could breathe fresher air and grow their own organic vegetables in their backyard.

Yes, before farm-to-table became the popular health trend it is today, the Tantocos were already living it.

Hindy’s organic lifestyle began many years ago, back when she was attending Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and continued it when she moved back to the Philippines. Naturally, like most mothers, it was when she started her own family and saw her children growing that she became even more concerned about their nutrition.

Eventually her personal project turned into profit, when she started Holy Carabao Holistic Farms, which aims to provide organic, natural, and healthy food. Apart from clean and healthy food, it is also concerned with proper farming that does not compromise the ecosystem and farmers’ livelihood, something that’s probably

“‘Organic’ is not just a type of food. To me, it is food. Everything else is an excuse for food.”

born from Hindy’s own personal stance on both. It’s not just about going organic for her. “‘Organic’ means a lot more to me now than what is stated by organic and certifying bodies. I prefer a more holistic approach to nutrition as I have done my own research, and I have learned from experience working on our own farms and with other farmers,” she says. “‘Organic’ is not just a type of food.

To me, it is food. Everything else is an excuse for food. And more generally, it is a lifestyle choice surrounding every aspect in which we choose to live, nurture and heal ourselves. It encompasses so much more than what we put into our mouths.”

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Why Moms Love HiPP Organic Kindermilk

“My son’s pediatrician recommended HiPP Organic Kindermilk and it worked wonders for my child. He doesn’t show signs of reflux, lactose intolerance, nor any allergic symptoms. Thank you for bringing this formula to the market for it has solved a big chunk of my problem on what milk to give to my son.”

—Bambi Javelosa

“HiPP Organic Kindermilk is prescribed for my son by his pediatrician because it is free from unwanted chemical residues. I also like that it has Omega-3, calcium, and other essential vitamins and minerals to help in his development. I have also known that organic production is much better for the environment and is kinder to animals.”

—Liwayway Ang

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“Our firstborn had been using a milk formula when we noticed he was prone to constipation. We eliminated food we thought might be causing the difficult bowel movement and had good results for a few weeks. Then, the problem resurfaced. We lessened the formula until almost half, but this led to weight loss. We took him to a pediatric gastroenterologist, who advised us to give him prune juice and take 15 ml. of laxative solution. After more than a year, we went back to his pedia, and she recommended HiPP Organic Kindermilk. We weren’t familiar with the brand, so we searched it on the Internet and read positive feedback. In under a month of switching to HiPP Organic Kindermilk, we completely stopped the stool softener. Because of this, I strongly believe in the benefits of organic food.”—Liezl U. Lising

“As new parents, our top concern is to watch our son grow into a healthy and active child. He experienced intolerance to his previous formula. We switched to another formula, but he started to experience horrible constipation, upset stomach discomfort, distress, and difficulty to defecate. We were lucky a friend of my husband introduced us to HiPP Organic Kindermilk.The moment we switched to HiPP, my son was a changed boy. He is happy, without belly problems and tantrums.”

—Jhonne Bartolome

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU Send us your thoughts on the magazine. The first 20 responses will get a gift pack from Tiny Buds.

Email us at ChooseOrganic@ antech-asia.com

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What’s your most memorable Dr. Edwards moment?

We asked moms, and here’s what they said

“I used that water for everything when I had my young kids. I mixed my milk with it, I traveled with bottles of them, I would soak their toys and pacifiers with them.”

—Joana Lhuillier, mom of 3

“I need my Dr. Edwards for everything! My son just started eating solids and we use it to boil his vegetables.

It’s also what he drinks with his milk and alone as drinking water.”

—Tanya De La Paz, mom of 2

“I was on my way to the airport and I realized I had too many water bottles with me that were not going to be allowed by security to be hand carried into the plane. I immediately began mixing them with milk and distributing them to be hand carried by the rest of the members of my family who I was traveling with just so none would be left behind or wasted.”

—Maite D. Araneta, mom of 1

I didn’t trust just any water to touch the toys of my toddlers if they needed washing after a fall to the floor, especially if we were out of town. Since most toys inevitably reached their mouths, I would use Dr. Edwards water to wash their toys.

—Ana J. Gloria, mom of 2

“When I left the country for vacation, I made sure I didn’t run out of Dr. Edwards water.

I packed one whole luggage full with it, checked it in and brought it with me in my travels.”

—Juana Manahan-Yupangco, mom of 2

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Mommy mission: to make your children love healthy food

Building a taste for health

By Tricel NAVA-De Guzman

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feed our children and families. In the supermarket, I have often observed how most people’s grocery carts are 90 percent filled with processed and junk food, while only 10 percent are fresh ingredients and produce. Now some parents may say, “But my child is healthy, she is not sickly so there’s no harm if she eats processed food.”

Remember, things like childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart problems, liver problems, and high cholesterol don’t happen overnight. They are an accumulation of years of unhealthy food choices.

Furthermore, the kinds of food that go into our children’s bodies also affect their mental and psychological development.

Admittedly, preparing 100 percent healthy and home-cooked meals all the time is a tall older. But we can definitely take baby steps to make sure our children and family start eating right again. How? By simply switching to better choices. All it takes is a conscious effort,

IMAGE BY JILL CHEN/shutterstock.com

s parents, we start out with the best intentions when it comes to our children’s nutrition. We all want to see them healthy.

Yet the moment our child rejects a certain food, especially vegetables, we tend to give up so easily, and relent to not-sohealthy choices like burgers, nuggets, packaged biscuits, crackers, hotdogs, canned food, cakes, and ice cream because “it’s what they will only eat.”

Unwittingly, we parents are responsible for training our children’s palates to favor addictive, unhealthy food over nutritious, home-cooked meals. Then, once they enter preschool, they’re even more exposed to processed snacks and beverages.

In my daughter’s school alone, birthday celebrations are a regular occurrence where sugar-laden cupcakes, artificial juice drinks, and processed snacks are staples. Before we know it, we have become so dependent on processed foods to

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commitment, and the desire to take advantage of the myriad resources now available to us. Here are some quick tips I can share to help you start making better food choices for your family:

Prioritize cooking and eating at home.

IMAGE BY JILL CHEN/shutterstock.com

By cooking at home, you are already making a healthier choice for your family because you choose what goes into the food they eat. Devote time to cooking, even just two to three hours per week. If you’re not into cooking, teach helpers how to cook healthier fare or choose better ingredients with the aid of today’s apps and wealth of recipes online. Let your children help in the kitchen, too.

When they participate in preparing their food, they are more likely to eat what they make.

Cook using natural or fresh ingredients.

Make dishes using natural and less ingredients.

Beware of excess and hidden sugars that go by 61 different names, such as sucrose, maltose, dextrose,

fructose, glucose, galactose, high fructose corn syrup, and others. There’s nothing good about highly processed foods. They offer no nutritional value and are detrimental to our health. They are high in salt, sugar, fat, and even toxic chemicals to make them appealing and have a longer shelf life. Anything that is packaged, bottled, canned, boxed, or that comes from a factory is ultimately considered a processed food. Another way to distinguish a highly processed food is by reading its list of ingredients. If the list goes on and on and includes items you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce, then it is highly processed. If the food can stay on a shelf for a long time (not chilled), it is highly processed.

Stock your pantry with healthy food.

Remove junk food and highly processed snacks so children cannot see and demand for them. If you work and can’t always run to the grocery store, it’s easier to whip up something fresh and simple

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when your kitchen is always stocked with healthy ingredients. In my refrigerator, I always have milk, cream, yogurt, eggs, unprocessed cheese, wheat bread, peanut butter, frozen vegetables, and fresh vegetables. For dry ingredients, I have pasta, brown or black rice, oatmeal, dried fruits, spices, a variety of flours, dried mushrooms, nuts, and basic condiments, plus, of course, onions, garlic, and potatoes. If you have a garden, plant herbs and malunggay (which grows easily anywhere).

With these, you can always cook simple healthy dishes for the kids, like vegetable soup, veggie omelette, pasta, or stir-fried vegetables.

Cook in big batches, then portion and freeze for later serving. That way you will always have homecooked meals on standby.

Choose homemade whenever possible.

Though I try not to be overly strict about what my child eats, I make it a rule that she doesn’t eat processed foods at home. (She can try them

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outside.) The key is moderation and balance.

For children’s snack, choose a peanut butter or egg sandwich over processed biscuits, nuts over candies, homemade kamote chips over junk food, fresh fruit juice over artificial fruit drinks. Treat your kids to home-baked desserts, like muffins and cookies where you get to control the amount of sugar. Have fun when preparing their food. Even as simple as creating different shapes of pancakes or putting a smiley face on their bread makes them delighted and excited to eat.

Be a role model.

Walk the talk. If your children see you always eating greens, they are more likely to give them a try. If you explain to them why a certain food is not good for them, they are likely to listen. Offer better options instead so they do not even look for the unhealthy kinds. Making your children eat right should be a continuous effort so it becomes a habit for them (and for us, too).

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