Nutritalks with Yan

01/07/2026

Happy Nutrition Month! 💚

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐛-𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧, 𝐀𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐚𝐧!

Strengthening the Link Between Nutrition and Environmental Protection, with a focus on Climate Action

Every year, the Philippines celebrates Nutrition Month (NM) to promote greater awareness and collective action toward improving the nutritional status of Filipinos, mandated by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 491 of 1974 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines. Since 2024, the NM campaign has been guided by the overarching theme, “Sa PPAN, Sama-Sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” with a selected sub-theme under this broader call to highlight the key pillars of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).

The NNC Technical Committee, consisting of various bureaus, offices, and organizations, has approved“𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻, 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗮𝗻!" as this year’s sub-theme. This focus builds on PPAN 2023–2028 programs that promote sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems. It highlights the vital connection between nutrition and the environment, emphasizing that protection of natural resources is essential to ensuring sustainable food systems, food security, and good nutrition for present and future generations.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, largely driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable land use. These changes alter the natural environment by increasing global temperatures, disrupting ecosystems, raising sea levels, and intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2021). Nutrition and climate change are closely interconnected. Climate change directly affects food systems by influencing agricultural productivity, fisheries, and food supply chains. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and typhoons can disrupt food production and reduce the availability of nutritious foods (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], 2015). In countries like the Philippines, where many communities rely heavily on agriculture and marine resources for their livelihoods and daily food consumption, these climate-related disruptions can significantly affect access to diverse and healthy diets.

When food production becomes unstable, communities may experience limited access to nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and fish. This situation can increase the risk of malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations including children, pregnant women, and low-income households (World Vision International, 2024). Climate change can also affect the nutritional quality of food by altering crop yields and nutrient composition, further challenging efforts to ensure adequate nutrition for all.

At the same time, food systems contribute to climate change. The way food is produced, processed, transported, and consumed generates a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that food systems account for approximately 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the need to promote sustainable diets and environmentally responsible food production practices (UN-Nutrition, 2021). Unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive food waste, and high consumption of resource-intensive foods place pressure on land, water, and biodiversity, ultimately affecting the environment that supports food production.

Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that integrates nutrition goals with environmental sustainability. Transforming food systems to become more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive is essential in addressing malnutrition while also mitigating climate change (World Health Organization, 2023). Climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable fisheries, diversified crop production, and the promotion of locally produced and seasonal foods are key strategies that can help ensure stable food supply while protecting natural resources.

Scientific and development organizations also emphasize the importance of investing in climate-resilient and nutrient-dense crops that can adapt to changing environmental conditions while supporting healthy diets (FAO & International Atomic Energy Agency, 2024). These innovations, together with improved agricultural practices and responsible consumption patterns, can help strengthen food systems and promote better nutrition outcomes.

In the Philippines, the National Nutrition Council plays a crucial role in advancing policies and programs that promote proper nutrition across the life cycle. Through coordinated nutrition interventions and multi-sectoral collaboration, the Council supports initiatives that ensure access to safe, nutritious, and sustainable food while responding to emerging challenges such as climate change.

The theme “𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻, 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗮𝗻!” serves as a call to action for government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, the private sector, and communities to work together in protecting both human health and the environment. Safeguarding forests, oceans, agricultural lands, and water resources helps secure our food sources and ensures that future generations will continue to have access to nutritious and sustainable diets.

As we celebrate Nutrition Month 2026, let us recognize that the health of people and the health of the planet are inseparable. By adopting sustainable food practices, reducing food waste, supporting local and climate-resilient food production, and strengthening nutrition programs, we can build resilient food systems and ensure better nutrition for all Filipinos—while caring for the environment that sustains us.





References:
[1] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2015). Climate change, food security and nutrition. FAO.https://www.fao.org/3/i5188e/i5188e.pdf

[2] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, & International Atomic Energy Agency. (2024). Enhancing agrifood systems through climate-resilient and nutrition-dense crops. https://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/cc3734en

[3] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Climate change 2021: The physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157896

[4] UN-Nutrition. (2021). Positioning nutrition as integral to the climate change agenda. https://www.unnutrition.org/publications/positioning-nutrition-climate-change

[5] World Health Organization. (2023). Transforming food systems for healthy diets. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240076385

[6] World Vision International. (2024). Climate change is increasing hunger and malnutrition. https://www.worldvision.org/our-work/climate-change-hunger-malnutrition

20/06/2026

A quick look back at my Health and Wellness lecture last June 17, 2026, with the teaching and non-teaching personnel of Halapitan National High School,San Fernando, Bukidnon. 💚

As part of their Gender and Development (GAD) Program on Physical, Nutrition, and Holistic Wellness of Public School Personnel, we talked about common health challenges, nutrition myths, energy, focus, well-being, and simple nutrition habits that can support better health despite busy schedules.

Daghang salamat sa warm welcome, active participation, and meaningful conversations throughout the session. It was a privilege to spend the afternoon learning and sharing with all of you.

Wishing everyone continued success in both work and health. 💚

26/05/2026

Giingnan kag “watch your sugar”? Ayaw’g tuo diretso!

Before cutting rice, pag pause sa.

If you ask: Is it good that rice is the first thing you should remove?

DILI PERMI.

Let me explain.

Rice can affect blood sugar, but rice is not the only thing that matters.

As an RND, I would not look at rice alone.

I would ask:

1. How much rice do you usually eat?
2. What do you eat with it?
3. Do you drink soft drinks, milk tea, juice, or sweet coffee?
4. Do you snack often?
5. Do you get hungry again too fast?
6. What are your lab results, medications, and health history?

Because “watch your sugar” should not turn into “fear your food.”

The bottomline is:

Ayaw ninyo i-blame ang rice diretso oy. 😃

Look at the full pattern first:

Drinks, portions, snacks, meal timing, and what you pair with your rice.

From there, mas klaro kung unsay dapat unahon.

You do not have to cut everything in one day.

If you need guidance on what to cut first, mag istorya ta. 😉

12/05/2026

MANIHAPON TA!

This may look like a normal home meal, but this is where nutrition usually starts.

Food that doesn’t try too hard.

No imported ingredients.
No meal prep container.
No “healthy aesthetic.”

Healthy eating does not have to begin with a big change gyud.

Usahay, Tan-awon lang sa nimo imong usual plate and notice:

naay okay na ani, naa lang kulang gamay, naay sobra, or naa pwede idugang sunod kaon.

Just small steps like drinking water today, adding vegetables when available, or eating your rice with something that gives your body more than just energy.

Basin naa ray makutlo sa palibot, nutrition can already start with what's already in front of you.

Save this as a reminder: your usual meal can be a good place to start! 🤗💚

10/05/2026

I get why nutrition can feel intimidating.

Sometimes, it sounds like bawal, diet, weight loss, restrictions, or needing to eat perfectly.

There’s so much food advice online that even a normal meal can suddenly feel confusing.

But I don’t want nutrition to feel like something that scares people away from asking questions, enjoying food, or starting where they are.

Food choices still matter, but fear does not always help people make better ones. It can make people avoid asking, feel guilty, or think they already failed before they even start.

Usahay, people don’t need another list of bawal. They just need help understanding what matters first.

That’s what I hope Nutritalks can be, a space where food and health feel easier to talk about.

09/05/2026

Hi, I’m Yan, a Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here for a while, I’m happy you’re still around. 🤗

For the past two years, hospital duty shaped a lot of how I see nutrition. School taught me the science, but hospital duty taught me the human side. It made me realize that the “right” advice on paper does not always fit the person in front of you.

Nutrition also has to consider a person’s health condition, appetite, lab results, medications, daily routine, the support they have, and what they can actually eat or handle.

Even outside the hospital, food is still personal. People have different schedules, budgets, health concerns, food habits, and reasons why eating better can feel difficult.

That’s the kind of understanding I want to bring here in Nutritalks with Yan. Nutrition that is still based on science, but explained in a way that feels simple, kind, and realistic.

Because most of the time, people don’t need more pressure around food. They need guidance that makes sense for their real life.

Kay unsaon man ang advice kung dili siya fit sa actual routine sa tao? 😊

When you hear the word dietitian, what comes to mind?

08/05/2026

For a while, Nutritalks with Yan was quiet. Life happened, work happened, and I also had my own season of figuring out where I wanted this page to go.

Even when I wasn’t posting much, nutrition was still part of my everyday life through work, patient care, food conversations, and the small questions people would still ask me from time to time.

So I updated a few things here. Nothing too big. I just wanted this page to feel clearer and more like me again.

Happy to share💚

01/04/2026

💚

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐛-𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧, 𝐀𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐚𝐧!

Strengthening the Link Between Nutrition and Environmental Protection, with a focus on Climate Action

Every year, the Philippines celebrates Nutrition Month (NM) to promote greater awareness and collective action toward improving the nutritional status of Filipinos, mandated by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 491 of 1974 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines. Since 2024, the NM campaign has been guided by the overarching theme, “Sa PPAN, Sama-Sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” with a selected sub-theme under this broader call to highlight the key pillars of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).

The NNC Technical Committee, consisting of various bureaus, offices, and organizations, has approved“𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻, 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗮𝗻!" as this year’s sub-theme. This focus builds on PPAN 2023–2028 programs that promote sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems. It highlights the vital connection between nutrition and the environment, emphasizing that protection of natural resources is essential to ensuring sustainable food systems, food security, and good nutrition for present and future generations.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, largely driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable land use. These changes alter the natural environment by increasing global temperatures, disrupting ecosystems, raising sea levels, and intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2021). Nutrition and climate change are closely interconnected. Climate change directly affects food systems by influencing agricultural productivity, fisheries, and food supply chains. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and typhoons can disrupt food production and reduce the availability of nutritious foods (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], 2015). In countries like the Philippines, where many communities rely heavily on agriculture and marine resources for their livelihoods and daily food consumption, these climate-related disruptions can significantly affect access to diverse and healthy diets.

When food production becomes unstable, communities may experience limited access to nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and fish. This situation can increase the risk of malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations including children, pregnant women, and low-income households (World Vision International, 2024). Climate change can also affect the nutritional quality of food by altering crop yields and nutrient composition, further challenging efforts to ensure adequate nutrition for all.

At the same time, food systems contribute to climate change. The way food is produced, processed, transported, and consumed generates a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that food systems account for approximately 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the need to promote sustainable diets and environmentally responsible food production practices (UN-Nutrition, 2021). Unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive food waste, and high consumption of resource-intensive foods place pressure on land, water, and biodiversity, ultimately affecting the environment that supports food production.

Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that integrates nutrition goals with environmental sustainability. Transforming food systems to become more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive is essential in addressing malnutrition while also mitigating climate change (World Health Organization, 2023). Climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable fisheries, diversified crop production, and the promotion of locally produced and seasonal foods are key strategies that can help ensure stable food supply while protecting natural resources.

Scientific and development organizations also emphasize the importance of investing in climate-resilient and nutrient-dense crops that can adapt to changing environmental conditions while supporting healthy diets (FAO & International Atomic Energy Agency, 2024). These innovations, together with improved agricultural practices and responsible consumption patterns, can help strengthen food systems and promote better nutrition outcomes.

In the Philippines, the National Nutrition Council plays a crucial role in advancing policies and programs that promote proper nutrition across the life cycle. Through coordinated nutrition interventions and multi-sectoral collaboration, the Council supports initiatives that ensure access to safe, nutritious, and sustainable food while responding to emerging challenges such as climate change.

The theme “𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻, 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗮𝗻!” serves as a call to action for government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, the private sector, and communities to work together in protecting both human health and the environment. Safeguarding forests, oceans, agricultural lands, and water resources helps secure our food sources and ensures that future generations will continue to have access to nutritious and sustainable diets.

As we celebrate Nutrition Month 2026, let us recognize that the health of people and the health of the planet are inseparable. By adopting sustainable food practices, reducing food waste, supporting local and climate-resilient food production, and strengthening nutrition programs, we can build resilient food systems and ensure better nutrition for all Filipinos—while caring for the environment that sustains us.





References:
[1] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2015). Climate change, food security and nutrition. FAO.https://www.fao.org/3/i5188e/i5188e.pdf

[2] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, & International Atomic Energy Agency. (2024). Enhancing agrifood systems through climate-resilient and nutrition-dense crops. https://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/cc3734en

[3] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Climate change 2021: The physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157896

[4] UN-Nutrition. (2021). Positioning nutrition as integral to the climate change agenda. https://www.unnutrition.org/publications/positioning-nutrition-climate-change

[5] World Health Organization. (2023). Transforming food systems for healthy diets. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240076385

[6] World Vision International. (2024). Climate change is increasing hunger and malnutrition. https://www.worldvision.org/our-work/climate-change-hunger-malnutrition

15/02/2026

happy heart month! ❤️