Healthy Preggy = Healthy Baby

July is declared as the National Nutrition month to create awareness on the importance of nutrition among Filipinos. This year’s theme, “Batang Pinoy SANA TALL… I was stunting, SAMA ALL!” aims to promote awareness and mobilize actions to address stunting.

The Philippines is one of the 10 countries with the most stunted children in the world. And recently, according to the results of the survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, 1 in 3 of Filipino children, 0-59 months old are stunted.

One of the causes of stunting, according to the World Health Organization, is poor nutrition during pregnancy. The growth and development of children largely depend on the nutrient intake of the mother. Below are some essential nutrients needed during pregnancy.

Nutrients	Functions	Food sources
Folic Acid	To prevent birth defects such as neural tube defects (NTDs)	Oranges, orange juice, strawberries, green leafy vegetables, spinach, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, fortified cereals, peas, pasta, beans, nuts
Vitamin B6	Used to manage nausea and vomiting in pregnancy; anti-emetic effects	Beef liver, pork, chicken, fish, egg yolks
Vitamin B12	An important factor in DNA synthesis; may help in preventing NTDs	Shellfish, fish, beef, liver, pork, eggs, dairy, poultry
Vitamin D	Helps body use calcium and phosphorus	Milk, fatty fish
Vitamin C	Protects tissues from damage and aids in iron absorption; strengthens immune system	Citrus fruits, bell peppers, green beans, strawberries, papaya, potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes
Calcium	Helps to build strong bones and teeth, prevent blood clots; helps in muscles and nerve function	Yogurt, milk, cheddar cheese, calcium-fortified foods like soy milk, juices, bread, cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, canned fish with bones
Iron	Helps in the production of hemoglobin; prevents anemia, low birth weight and premature delivery	Beef, pork, dried beans, spinach, dried fruits, wheat germ, oatmeal or grains fortified with iron

Good thing! We have many sources that can give you adequate nutrients and calories. Gardenia offers a variety of healthy breads to choose from. You may want to try Gardenia High Fiber Whole Wheat Raisin Loaf, the only bread in the market that is super rich in fiber. You’ll get 29% of your daily fiber requirement in just a slice!

To enjoy it, even more, you can try this recipe for a delicious treat:

Gardenia Tuna Tataki Sandwich

Ingredients:

2 slices of Gardenia Wheat Raisin Loaf

4 Tbsp Ahi Tuna/Sashimi Grade Tuna

1 Tbsp Sesame seeds

½ cup Mixed greens

1 Tbsp Cucumber, thinly sliced

2 Slices Jalapeno, thinly sliced

Dressing:

1 Tbsp Miso paste

2 Tbsp Lemon juice

2 Tbsp Mirin

Salt & pepper, to taste

2 tsp Ginger oil

Artificial sweetener, to taste

Procedure:

To prepare Dressing:

1.) In a bowl, combine miso paste, lemon juice, mirin, lemon juice, ginger oil and whisk together. Adjust the taste with artificial sweetener and salt and pepper.

2.) Set aside

To prepare Tuna:

1.) Roll Sashimi Grade Tuna in sesame seeds and set aside.

2.) Preheat the non-stick pan. Sear the tuna for 30 seconds on all sides. set aside and rest for 5 minutes.

To assemble Sandwich:

1.) Put lettuce, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber on the bread.

2.) Top the tuna on the vegetables and drizzle with the miso dressing.

3.) Serve and enjoy.

Stunting is irreversible but may be prevented with proper nutrition in the first 1000 days (from the period of conception up to 2 years old). Thus, healthy pregnancy = healthy baby as well.

References:

Mahan & Escott-Stump (2008). Krause’s Food & Nutrition Therapy, Saunders Elsevier.
National Nutrition Council (2020). NNC TechCom approves 2020 Nutrition Month theme. Retrieved from https://www.nnc.gov.ph/index.php/39-featured-articles/3509-nnc-techcom-approves-2020-nutrition-month-theme.html
https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/nutrients-vitamins-pregnancy/