Four healthier alternatives to your favorite Pinoy dishes. Photos courtesy of FOOD EMPOWERMENT PROJECT and ME AND MY VEG MOUTH
Based on a report issued by the Asia Roundtable on Food Innovation for Improved Nutrition, the World Health Organization estimates 23.6 percent of Filipino adults above the age of 18 are overweight. In the report, Dr. Cecilia Acuin, Chief Science Research Specialist at the Nutritional Assessment and Monitoring Division at the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, noted that women were more affected than men and that it is more prevalent among urban Filipinos, who opt for food which is energy-dense and high in saturated fats, and consume fewer fruits and vegetables.
Consuming more plants is not a novel idea. It is an age-old reminder. These days, however, the call for a reduction in meat consumption has arguably gained more traction, especially with the climate change agenda. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the largest specialized agency in the United Nations system, livestock contributes to climate change as much as all cars, trains, trucks, planes, and ships combined. According to the Greenpeace campaign data, having beans instead of meat once a week, over the course of a year, is the equivalent of not burning 144 liters of petrol.
It is good to note that Filipinos are also taking notice and action. The Philippines ranked 7th in the landmark year for Veganuary with over 200,000 vegan and veg-curious people across the planet participating in an animal-product free month.
To eat more vegetables, convenience is key and not feeling deprived is just as important. So to get you started, here are four easy recipes.
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