Bola-bolang Puso ng Saging: A proposed healthy menu for School Feeding Program

Chapter I
The Problem and Literature Review
Background of the Study
An important part of the pupils’ and students daily life is food. The pupils and stuents get their
energy from this, which allows them to exercise both their bodies and minds. Making sure that
pupils and students have gain to the best food they take. The food they are going to buy have a
big impact to the nutritional food they intake.
Many of us experiment with different diets, particularly with vegetables that are difficult to feed
to the entire family, including children. One vegetable that some of us set aside in the dining
table is the heart of the banana or “puso ng saging”. The heart of the banana offers many
benefits. It contains a lot of vitamins A and C and also has antioxidants, fiber and potassium.
There are many dishes or variety of food that we make in the heart of the banana one of this is
the “Bola-bolang puso ng saging”.

All schools shall establish and maintain the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) as a source of
ingredients for the SBFP and shall encourage the families of the beneficiaries to have their own
home gardens so that nutritional improvement is maintained at home. The school GPP
coordinator shall coordinate with their local agriculture officials to provide training and seedlings
for their home gardens. This where the students get their energy to have the ability to work their
bodies and minds. Schools provide a service to the school community.

Significance of the study

We are all aware that banana has a high value of health benefits and their potential to cure some
kinds of disease and infections. But some of us did not know that there is also one important part
of the banana that is healthy as its fruit the “heart” or puso. The heart of the banana offers many
benefits. Here are some benefits that you may get from eating puso ng saging. It can cure
anaemia, ulcer, ease of digestion, reduces high blood pressure, strengthen the uterus, relieves
constipation and it also provides effective functions of the kidney. It contains a lot of vitamins
A and C and also has antioxidants, fiber and potassium, etc. Puso ng saging is affordable and
nutritious food. It can be difficult to find foods that would be both healthy and well-liked by
everybody. For great cooks, it can be challenging to prepare the meal that everyone will like
while ignoring its nutritional value.

Literature Review

Singh (2017) analyzed that the banana plant is considered as a nature’s gift to human kind.
Widely known for its fruit part but the banana blossom or puso ng saging has also been called as
a super food due to its high nutrient content an excellent source of fiber, good source of protein,
vitamin A, C, and E, minerals like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and
antioxidants. The banana blossom is also a great therapeutic value such as reducing anxiety,
helpful in weight loss and helps in overcoming diabetes. Despite being such a wonder food, it is
still underrated in most part of the world.

In addition, one of the major factor causing children/teens to dislike vegetables is their taste.
Another one is that children or teens do not value health yet like the adults, instead they value
taste and satisfaction. Furthermore, majority of the people you ask loves burger. But what makes
a burger, burger? It is the patty.

Stein (2018) mentioned that burger [patties] could be high in dietary cholesterol and saturated
fat. Although your body needs saturated fat for energy and cholesterol to make hormones,
vitamin D, and digestive fluids.

As eloquently stated by Marcin and Watson (2018) having too much LDL (Low-density
lipoprotein) cholesterol can damage your arteries, contribute to heart disease, and increase your
risk for stroke. Most of the other children in the planet have resisted in eating vegetables. Some
grew up to loving it and eventually ended in being a vegetarian or a even vegan today and there
are some that still don’t eat a single piece of vegetable. Now that we are growing up and getting
older, health problems may start processing in our bodies. Countless of doctors and health
websites suggests that the only thing that can stop or prevent it from occurring and spending a
ton of money in the future all because we refused to eat a vegetable is that if we live healthy and
start eating right.

According to (Vishal Sharma, 2019). Banana flower, which may called banana blossom or
banana heart is a large, dark purple blossom which grows on the tip of a banana bunch on the end
of the stem holding a cluster of banana. In most tropical countries, banana blossoms are used as
vegetable either raw or cooked which only the tendon core is sliced and eaten. Banana blossom
has a huge nutritional value and healthy benefits.

Afifah Novitasari, 2013 said that it represent a valuable source of potassium, vitamin A, C, E,
minerals, fatty acid content, flavonoids, saponin, essential and nonessential amino acid, tannins,
glycoside, and steroid. Besides, banana flower also contents of 9.9 grams of carbohydrate, 5.7
grams of fiber, 1.6 grams of protein, 0.6 gram of fat per 100 grams. Banana blossom serves the
health benefits; curing infections; overcoming diabetes and anemia; weight loss; rich source of
vitamins and minerals; healthy uterus. Banana flower, which may called banana blossom or
banana heart is a large, dark purple blossom which grows on the tip of a banana bunch on the end
of the stem holding a cluster of banana.

Namita, 2019 also said that, Banana flowers are a good source of vitamins A and C. This can
ward off infections, reduces free radical activity, reduces menstrual bleeding, manages
diabetes and anemia, rich source of vitamins and minerals, boosts mood and reduces
anxiety.

Musa acuminata Colla explain that the Blossom of the banana plant is often consumed as a
vegetable in many Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
In Sri Lanka, more than 32 million banana bunches are produced annually. Banana blossom is a
popular dish in Sri Lankan cuisines. It is consumed as curry and a boiled or deep-fried salad with
rice and wheat bread. Despite the absence of data on dietary fiber content and the banana
blossom composition, it is generally valued as a fiber-rich source. Dietary fiber has demonstrated
its benefits in health and disease prevention in medical nutrition therapy. Consumption of dietary
fiber is known to lower blood cholesterol levels normalize blood glucose and insulin levels,
promote normal laxation, avoid constipation, prevent diverticulosis and diverticulitis, reduce the
risk of colon cancer and breast cancer, and prevent obesity, etc.

Many countries in the world suffer from poverty, which leads to hunger and insufficient capacity
to provide nutritious foods, even with a lot of agricultural resources. The Philippines is a known
nation to be abundant in agricultural resources and is also known as some country rich in
agriculture. Many varieties of food sources can be found and grown. However, Filipinos still
suffer hunger, and the Philippines is still considered an emerging country. Moreover, desire is
one of the critical manifestations of poverty. In many parts of the municipality, the continued
rising of prices, continually importing products, not patronizing our local products, and high
costs of the necessary goods and fuel have triggered economic, social problems and the urgency
to solve the rising issues in many places locally.

Dapartment of Health or DOH said in June 28,2014 that Banana blossoms are rich in vitamins
and minerals beneficial for our health. So every time you have your banana blossoms, think
about the rich nutrients you are eating as these are beneficial to your health.

Shahzadi DevjeShahzadi Devje said banana flowers contain many nutrients, including
antioxidants, several minerals, and a small amount of protein. They’re also low in calories and
fat while offering a balance of insoluble and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to
form a gel-like mixture in your gut. It may help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
On the other hand, insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water. It adds bulks to stool to help it move
through your digestive system. This may help prevent constipation and other digestive problems,
as well as help you feel full longer. Studies also indicate that banana flower may be especially
high in fiber, as well as minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper.
These minerals aid numerous functions of your body. This blossom even provides all essential
amino acids that your body needs and contains fewer natural sugars than banana fruit and other
tropical fruits. Furthermore, banana flower offers numerous antioxidants, including quercetin,
catechin, phenols, saponins, and tannins. Antioxidants help protect your body from unstable
molecules called free radicals and may help reduce disease risk.