ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City Nutrition Center brought its NutriKwento Series to the Nabitasan Child Development Center in La Paz on July 9, 2026, turning a morning into a lively classroom of colors and flavors. The event is part of the city’s celebration of the 52nd National Nutrition Month.
A Story That Makes Vegetables Fun
The session centered on the children’s book “Ang Rainbow Plate ni Mia,” which follows a young girl as she discovers the joy of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. The story came alive through the voice of a nutrition officer who kept the toddlers wide‑eyed and curious. By the final page, the children were already naming the colorful foods they wanted to try.
The story was chosen deliberately. Nutritionists know that a “rainbow plate” ensures a child gets a broad range of vitamins and minerals essential for growth. Translating that science into a simple, memorable tale makes the lesson stick far longer than a lecture. The book’s message—that every color on the plate does something good for the body—is one the children can carry home.
Coloring, Games, and Prizes Reinforce the Message
After the storytelling, the children moved to low tables covered with crayons and outline drawings of fruits and vegetables. Coloring sheets allowed them to create their own rainbow plates, turning abstract advice into a personal creation. The room buzzed with the sounds of small hands picking crayons and proud voices naming their artwork.
Interactive games followed, with facilitators asking the children to sort pictures into “everyday foods” and “sometimes foods.” Prizes rewarded correct answers, building positive associations with healthy choices. The activities were designed to engage multiple senses, making nutrition a joyful experience rather than a chore. By the end, the children could identify a tomato, a banana, and a leafy green—and tell you why each was good for them.
Investing in the First 1,000 Days
The NutriKwento Series targets children in the critical early childhood window, when food preferences and metabolic patterns are formed. Experts emphasize that dietary diversity in these years protects against stunting and wasting, conditions that can permanently affect physical and cognitive development. Iloilo City has made early nutrition a cornerstone of its public health strategy.
The city complements storytelling with concrete feeding programs. Its production facility manufactures “RAIS‑SUSTANSYA,” a ready‑to‑cook mix of rice, mung beans, and sesame seeds developed with the Department of Science and Technology‑Food and Nutrition Research Institute. This blend is distributed to child development centers across the city, ensuring that young learners receive nutrient‑dense meals alongside the educational messages.
A Citywide Push for Healthier Children
The Nabitasan event aligns with the national Nutrition Month theme, “Sa PPAN: Sama‑Sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” which calls for collective action toward adequate nutrition. The local government has also rolled out fortified “enhanced nutribuns” to daycare centers, addressing hunger while supporting brain development. These initiatives work together to create a safety net that catches children before malnutrition takes hold.
By reaching families through their children, the NutriKwento Series turns a simple story hour into a long‑term investment. Parents who attended the session received tip sheets on preparing affordable, balanced meals at home. The city’s nutrition workers will follow up during regular growth monitoring visits, ensuring that the rainbow on the plate becomes a lasting habit.
