“Girl, these kids come in here and eat everything on their plate!” A few years ago, I had a conversation with a colleague who prepares meals at one of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico. I was curious because it’s often said that kids don’t like eating vegetables, fruits, and other healthy foods. That might be true, but when there’s too much month left at the end of the income, the situation definitely changes.

I can’t help but be surprised by the cost of the basic food basket in Puerto Rico these days. Conservative estimates place the cost of this basket which includes items like bread, milk, cheese, eggs, rice, meat, fruits, and vegetables at $161. Given their perishable nature and depending on the family’s size, the basket likely needs to be replenished weekly. Multiply that by four and consider whether it’s possible to make ends meet. I’m not here to judge circumstances; I’m more concerned about who is most affected, the vulnerable, in this case, the children.

It’s established that higher education levels correlate with increased income. But hungry brains find it hard to learn. Janice Ke and Elizabeth Lee Ford-Jones, in their review titled “Food insecurity and hunger: A review of the effects on children’s health and behaviour,” describe the effects inadequate nutrition can have on children. Two studies on iron deficiency have linked it to difficulties in language comprehension, which in turn makes it harder for children to follow instructions. A study conducted in Canada associates food insecurity with hyperactivity and inattention. Food insecurity affects emotional well-being. The concern grows when seeking access to food during emergencies like storms, earthquakes, or blackouts, during which electronic systems for using benefits may fail.

It’s our duty to properly nourish these developing brains because they will generate the great ideas that propel humanity forward.

I would like to see a national effort to promote more farming, more farmers’ markets, and the distribution of products to sales points. Also, that our families can maintain fairly paid jobs so they can afford their basic food basket.

I’d also like our children’s and youths’ education to include nutrition topics. It’s proven that increasing our knowledge about what’s healthy for us enables us to make better food choices to maintain a well-being, healthy, and balanced life. Every school subject is an opportunity to educate on this topic. Food names could be the day’s vocabulary list in English or Spanish, or portions could be the story to study fractions in math class. A community garden is an opportunity to learn not only the scientific names of plants but also about collaboration, sharing ideas, and teamwork.

In 2018, motivated by stories like the one at the beginning and many others of children who sometimes felt weak and tired during their tutoring sessions due to lack of food, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico decided to establish a Food Program. We provide a hot dinner to all the children who walk through our doors each day with over 1,200 meals served daily. We go home satisfied knowing that these children won’t go to bed hungry, because for many of them, this is their last meal of the day. We also offer Healthy Habits, a program where they learn about healthy lifestyles.

I invite you to get closer to Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico. Whether as a donor or volunteer, you can help ensure proper nutrition and well-being for our participants. Dream with me. Let’s work together to ensure a healthy life for every child across our beautiful archipelago.

Astrid Guerra
Content Investigator
Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico