Jo Sebastian explains the real meaning behind ‘You always deserve to eat’

“Whenever I’d say this, most people think it’s just ‘ah okay, pwede na akong lumamon’… the message that I really want to put forward with this is that everyone deserves access to food. Everyone deserves to be able to eat without fear. Everyone deserves to be their healthiest self, not because they’re struggling, but because it’s a right that we have, to be able to nourish our body,” she said.

Sebastian spoke during the panel of Monde Nissin’s The Better Food Conversation on August 6, which introduced initiatives to fortify food products with essential nutrients, incorporate fresh ingredients into instant meals, and inform consumers on healthier choices.

The 2023 National Nutrition Survey, which is the most recent one available, says 94.2% of Filipino households consider nutritional value when selecting food options.

However, the average Filipino tends to only meet half the required intake of various nutrients. Filipinos in urban areas manage to fulfill 86.6% of niacin (vitamin B3) and 60.4% of protein requirements, which can be sourced from meat and poultry, while energy, iron, calcium, and vitamin intake all fall below 30% of the respective required amounts. The ratios are much lower for rural households.

Efforts from both influencers and food manufacturers seek to address the pressing issue of widespread nutritional deficiencies among Filipinos amid limited access to healthy food, whether due to costs, convenience, or the availability of healthier options in their environment.

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