EXPERTS have repeatedly said that good nutrition is important to promote the mental, physical, emotional and psychological growth of children.

Instant noodles, even if fortified with certain vitamins and minerals, are not adequate substitutes for a balanced meal.

Of course it is understandable why many families have made instant noodles a basic commodity. With rice and other food essentials becoming more expensive, instant noodles are the most filling food they can get cheaply.

But children need more than just a dash of this vitamin and a sprinkling of that mineral.

Sherilyn Siy probably expresses the feeling of many concerned parents and nutritionists. More than just being angered by the corruption involved in the Department of Education’s purchase of overpriced instant noodles, she said in an e-mail, “what I find more annoying is the fact that the DepEd even considers instant noodles to be a healthy option in supplementing the children’s nutritional needs.”

Siy could not believe that DepEd officials did not know that instant noodles generally have high salt and fat contents, as well as MSG that can result in adverse reactions in some people.

She said that in Japan, schools provide children with lunch that is carefully planned and prepared by well-trained cooks and dieticians, ensuring it had all the required ingredients of a balanced meal.

She asked, “If we have P284 million to spend on instant noodles, could we not have used that money for more nutritious alternatives?”

I agree wholeheartedly and I hope that now that Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has suspended the controversial noodle purchase, he will have his agency’s nutritionists working on cheaper but more nutritious food supplements for public school children.

They have come up with some interesting concoctions using the highly nutritious malunggay.

Food from home

As for families, letting children bring a home-made meal or snack instead of giving them money will not only help ensure they are eating properly but will also help keep them safe from food- and water-borne diseases.

Food that is high in sugar, salt, additives, preservatives, artificial flavors and coloring—characteristics of many popular snack items—will lay the foundation for serious health problems later on—obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart ailments and many more.

Sandwiches, of course, are convenient "baon" and can be made both nutritious and filling when done properly and carefully. The freshness of the bread is an important consideration.

Parents might find these tips from bread maker Gardenia helpful in keeping bread fresh a little longer to reduce wastage.

Save the top end slice as cover for the loaf to preserve its softness and moistness.

Keep bread in a cool, dry and dark place. Placing bread under direct sunlight for a long period of time may cause it to moisten. This can lead to premature molding. Avoid storing bread near hot areas such as the top of refrigerators, gas stoves, etc.

Remaining bread may be stored in the refrigerator to prolong its shelf life. It can then be reheated in a toaster for three to five minutes.

Keep bread away from items that emit strong odors such as onions, seafood and meat as bread easily absorbs odors.

Make sure your hands are clean. Touching bread with unclean hands can cause premature molding.

Gardenia points out that its bread packs have G-lock devices. You can re-seal their bread packs with these devices after getting the slices of bread you need. This can prevent the air from causing the bread to dry up.

Feedback

Homerson Uy, a Filipino who is currently based in Sarawak, Malaysia, agrees there is a lot caretakers of the Subterranean River National Park in Puerto Princesa City can do to avoid making visitors unhappy. He said he and his foreigner friends also had a long wait there, as there were not enough boats to ferry the guests.

Uy suggests not only getting more bancas to shorten the wait but also the development of trails so people can go hiking as an alternative activity. The park management can organize guided walks (actually, there is a hiking trail called Monkey Trail above the river, but even during our visit, when scores of people were just twiddling their thumbs, nobody asked if some of the guests would want to do some walking).

Uy said Philippine parks were as good as those of other countries but other nations were better at selling those places and organizing visits so guests did not feel lost and confused.

He said Malaysia, for instance, knew how to advertise its tourist attractions, making everything sound interesting.

Uy said that while the Philippines had a lot to offer, it seemed to be not at the top of people’s lists of places to visit. Perhaps, he said, Filipino tourism officials could learn from its neighbors.

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