DOH warns against overeating, wasted food amid holidays

The Department of Health (DOH) spoke out against increased food waste and leftovers during the holiday season on Wednesday.

During a media conference, National Nutrition Council’s chief of Nutrition Information and Education Division Dr. Emmanuel Dimal noted that an overconsumption and preparation of food during celebrations often lead to more wasted food.

“During holidays, ang preparation natin ay doble, triple compared to usual na kinakain natin. Holiday tradition encourages abundance [and] families open cook more than is needed… Kaya malimit, maraming po tayong wastage,” he shared.

(During holidays, our prepared food doubles, tripled compared to our usual food intake. Holiday tradition encourages abundance [and] families open cook more than is needed… That is why we usually have a lot of wastage.)

He noted that back-to-back celebrations and varied food courses led to food excess, and leftovers were often thrown out.

This was viewed as both a waste of resources and a possible threat to food security.

“‘Pag sobra ang pagkain, natatapon, nasasayang. (If there is too much food, it is thrown out and gets wasted.) We are talking about food security. Food waste or wasted food means not only loss of money, but essentially loss of nutrients. [You have lost] money and increased the waste disposal issue,” he said.

To avoid food waste, Damil said the solution is to be mindful.

He recommended planning food menus ahead and considering budget, season, and storage space, and health conditions before deciding on meals.

“Let’s all strive to celebrate mindfully, enjoy the food, enjoy the company, but always remember the word balance… Always remember to choose nutritious foods,” he advised. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News