MANILA, Philippines?Eat your greens. Stay away from junk food.

These were the topics of Inquirer Read-Along stories held in celebration of National Nutrition Month.

A special read-along session was held at the head office of Mead Johnson in Makati City on July 10, featuring Mead Johnson Nutritionals Philippines president and general manager Paul Richards.

Saturday?s session, on the other hand, was headlined by 2009 Miss Philippines-Fire Patricia Marie Tumulak, Sophia School principal Ann Abacan, and award-winning storyteller Rich Rodriguez.

Over 40 children trooped to the Inquirer office in Makati and listened to Tumulak read ?Si Joey at ang Gulay Gang.? Written by Beng Alba and illustrated by Kora Dandan-Albano, the story is about how a child became healthy and strong by giving up junk food and eating vegetables.

Tumulak, who took up preschool education in college, was a warm and engaging storyteller.

?I love reading to kids. I find it very fulfilling,? she said. ?I also collect children?s stories because I want to put up my own preschool one day.?

Importance of ?pansit?

Abacan, who had donned a chef?s uniform, read ?Gusto Ko Ng Pansit Ngayon,? written by Rene O. Villanueva and published by the Philippine Children?s Television Foundation. The story is about a child who learns the importance of not wasting food.

Abacan, who is a nutritionist and dietician, said: ?It is important to eat a variety of foods. You should eat a combination of go, grow and glow foods.?

Twelve-year-old Ivana Hara said she enjoyed Joey?s veggie story. ?It was fun and made me want to eat more vegetables. I also learned that if I avoid junk food, I would stay healthy,? she said.

Ten-year-old Aldin Sala said that from now on, she would make ?the go, grow and glow foods the guide for my meals.?

Special session

A special Inquirer Read-Along session gathered over 40 kids at the head office of Mead Johnson in Makati on July 10.

Richards, Mead Johnson official, read ?Haluhalo Espesyal? written by Yvette Ferreol and illustrated by Jill Arwen Posadas. Published by Adarna House, it is the story of how a sick child gets better by eating healthy food prepared by a loving grandmother.
Richards, who is a natural storyteller, engaged the children?s attention by asking them about their favorite foods. ?Do you eat ensaymada? Turon? Halo-halo?? he asked.

Each time, the kids would respond with a resounding ?Yes!?

?I used to do storytelling for kids in Sunday School in Korea,? Richards said. ?It?s a welcome stress reliever and I enjoy it.?

Asked why Mead Johnson, which is active in feeding programs around the country, has aligned itself with the reading advocacy, Richards said: ?Good nutrition and good education go hand in hand. If children eat well, they also learn well.?

Rodriguez, an Inquirer Read-Along mainstay, read ?Just Add Dirt? written by Becky Bravo and illustrated by Jason Moss. Published by Adarna, the story is about a messy boy who cleans up his act and starts eating vegetables.

A veteran reader, Rodriguez incorporated funny antics and buzzwords in his session.

?It?s very engaging,? said Liberty Fernandez, who came with her four children. ?The activity reminded me of my childhood.?

?The stories were fun,? said 8-year-old Yona Fernandez. ?I learned that we should take care of our health.?

Credits

Saturday?s session was made possible by Hands-On Manila and Makati Sporting Association. Books donated by Marissa Oca Robles of the Gig Seafarer Children?s Stories were given away as prizes while TriDharma Marketing Corp. provided the snacks.

The July 10 session, hosted by the Inquirer?s Megi Garcia, was made possible by Virlanie Foundation and Mead Johnson, which gave the kids copies of ?Haluhalo Espesyal? and treated them to Lactum chocolate milk and snacks.

The next Inquirer Read-Along session on July 31 will commemorate the life and legacy of the late President Corazon Aquino who died a year ago on Aug 1. It will be held at the Inquirer office in Makati at 10 a.m. Interested participants may contact Ellen Caparros at 897-8808, local 329.