Educational and practical activities focused on nutrition and food production were recently held in the communities of La Pepesca, El Rosario, and Llano Largo in Río Hondo, Zacapa. The aim was to strengthen knowledge about nutrition and encourage food production within local schools.
At La Pepesca school, 24 students participated in the event. In El Rosario, 10 students from the Instituto Nacional de Educación Diversificada (INED) took part, while 14 fifth- and sixth-year students from Llano Largo school also joined the activities. All participants received instruction on nutrition and sustainable agricultural practices.
Angelina Nájera, a nutritionist with the Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture component of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), led a session titled “The Colorful Diet.” She explained to students: “The nutrients and benefits provided by fruits and vegetables depend on their color.” Nájera also discussed the concept of a balanced diet using different food groups.
Following this session, Héctor Salguero, an extension agent for Family Agriculture, guided students through establishing a teaching garden. Students learned about every stage of planting: preparing the land, creating planting beds, watering, and sowing seeds. Crops planted included tomato, sweet pepper, jalapeño pepper, eggplant, and cucumber.
These activities are part of MAGA’s ongoing initiatives to promote food education in educational centers.
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