This pandemic has made proper nutrition even more of a challenge
Moms overcome ‘nutri-problems’ for their kids by giving them ‘Lakas at Talas’
Nutrition has always been a pressing issue, especially now that families are becoming more vulnerable to health and economic problems. During these trying times, the resiliency shown by moms has inspired the Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink team in conducting a survey to better understand their nutrition needs and issues encountered during the pandemic.
The survey was conducted among members of the MOMs of Alaska (MOMAs) Facebook community, a group for moms who are dedicated to providing their children proper nutrition. And while providing nutrition remains one of their priorities, the survey has found that it has taken a back seat to more urgent concerns like supporting the family’s finances, budgeting limited earnings for food, health and safety necessities, juggling family responsibilities, and the like.
The survey received responses from nearly 300 moms from different walks of life such as housewives, call center agents, online sellers, teachers, vendors and many more. Majority of the respondents shared that budgeting concerns regarding groceries, health essentials and bills have made it harder to provide nutrition for their families. Half of the respondents have struggled with losing their jobs and a fifth of them struggle with balancing their family responsibilities.
In these trying times, Jenevev, a street food vendor and mother of two described her priorities. “Kahit na sa panahon ng pandemya, dapat hindi kaligtaan ang kalusugan ng pamilya. Kaya sinisigurado ko po na palaging wasto ang sustansyang nakukuha ng mga anak ko (Even during the pandemic, we shouldn’t neglect our family’s health. That’s why I make sure that my children receive the nutrition they need),” says Jenevev.
She isn’t the only one from the community who feels this way. In these exceptional circumstances, Jonalene, a housewife and mother of two struggles to provide sufficient nutrition for her children due to lack of financial capability.
“Kahit mahirap i-budget ang ₱100 a day, sinusubukan ko pa din bigyan ang mga anak ko ng masusustansyang pagkain tulad ng gulay. Simpleng ginisang gulay ay ayos na (“Even though it’s difficult to budget ₱100 a day, I still try to find ways to give my children healthy food like vegetables. A simple stir-fried vegetable dish is enough),” says Jonalene.
Of the respondents who consider providing proper nutrition for their families a top priority, 66.3 percent don’t have the means to afford the nutritional meals they aspire for.
Most of the respondents agree with this sentiment. Of the respondents who consider providing proper nutrition for their families a top priority, 66.3 percent don’t have the means to afford the nutritional meals they aspire for. On top of these problems, the pandemic continues to change the lifestyles and consumer habits of families everywhere. Of respondents, 81.3 percent prioritize pandemic essentials like face masks and alcohol in their spending over other products, making it even harder for moms to allocate time and budget for nutrition.
Regardless of these challenges, moms want their children to be healthy and grow properly, understanding how vital it is to take care of their health in today's world. As moms, they always want what’s best for their kids, giving their all to nurture and nourish them, and providing them with the proper guidance to live a healthy life. As a result, moms are finding ways to put their children's health and development first.
Moms from the MOMAs community try their best to create a healthy environment at home. More than half of the respondents (68.2 percent) have made it a habit to prepare nutritious meals within their budget, while others (66.3 percent) have started doing family exercises together. And luckily, more moms (79.8 percent) have found a way to solve their nutri-problems by buying affordable nutritional drinks like milk to help give their children the added nutrition they need on top of healthy meals.
Arlene, an online working mom of two from the MOMAs community, says, “As a mom, I always prioritize providing proper nutrition to my children, so part of what I do for them is giving healthy food and vitamins with many nutritional benefits. This is why affordable milk like Alaska is a big help to me, as it is filled with nutrients and health benefits for my kids.”
Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink has been continuously nourishing Filipino families, and with the findings from this survey and the determination shown by moms all over the country to provide what’s best for their children, the brand aims to bring nutrition even closer to every Filipino.
The survey has made it clear that children’s health and nutrition are a concern that has become more pronounced with the pandemic. To assist moms in providing nutrition to their families, Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink is launching its most affordable pack to date, with “Lakas at Talas” benefits to help with body and brain development. The Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink “Super Sulit Pack,” packed with protein, calcium, and vitamin D for “lakas,” which helps with healthy body development, and choline and iodine for “talas,” which helps with brain development and growth, is available at 300g for ₱70. Paired with a healthy and well-balanced morning meal, this milk drink provides nourishment in a delicious drink that kids can enjoy during breakfast. www.alaskamilk.com