The Nutrition Month celebration in the region kicks off with a vegetable planting on July 2.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator June Falancy said the vegetable planting activity will be done at the National Nutrition Council Office at the Baguio Dairy Farm to be participated in by the members of the Regional Technical Assistants on Nutrition. 

Falancy said vegetables are given importance because of the survey results showing that Filipinos are eating lesser vegetables. 

From 145 grams per day of vegetable consumption in 1978, this decreased to 110 grams per day in 2008. Across the country, consumption of vegetables varies between regions. 

Falancy said the Cordillera has the highest consumption at 169 grams per person while the Calabarzon and ARMM regions have the lowest consumption at 92 grams per person per day. 

She said based on the 2005 survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, reasons for the low consumption of vegetables for the last three years are: influence of family members who do not eat vegetables, dislike for vegetables because of the taste and texture, preference for meat than vegetables, vegetables require more time to prepare, and lack of knowledge on the nutritional and health benefits of vegetables, among other reasons. 

Falancy said having vegetables as part of a healthy diet can help prevent major non-communicable diseases. 

According to the World Health Organization, adequate consumption of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of various diseases.