Fight Malnutrition in Rural Guatemala

For close to two decades, Aldea Maya has been working on projects to fight malnutrition in Guatemala. We have nutrition and cooking classes with the children at the Chuk Muk elementary school. Another project we have is nutrition and cooking classes with a family member of the middle school children. We have divided these moms ( plus grandma’s and a dad) into 2 groups: those with children under 5 and those with children over 5 years old. We do this because we have 2 different programs, each with it’s own cook book pamphlet. In this cycle we had classes for 36 families.

The infant cook book and nutrition program focuses on when to eat solids and how much to feed the child. As well as how to feed infants and children healthy foods economically. We also focus on what not to feed children which is a huge problem as mostly processed chips, candies and soda pop drinks are readily available in the village. We also focus on making complete protein using vegetable and grain sources.

Our second cook book focuses on introducing locally grown greens into the diet. We explain why greens are important for protein, vitamins and minerals. We also inform the parents on the role each of these nutrients plays. One of our main focuses is on chaya: an incredibly healthy leafy green that can easily grow as a bush. Each family receives a chaya plant to grow at home.

Every class ends with a cooking class and a group meal.

The Aldea Maya organic garden and nutrition program at the Chuk Muk Elementary School is wonderful, educational and interactive. On of our nursing students, Angelica is running the nutrition and cooking classes. This helps her bring in a good wage while increasing her experience teaching which will be valuable when she becoimes an RN. Each grade learns about a different nutrient or mineral. The grade 4 classes have  the learned about vitamin A and Vitamin C and the importance of bananas. While the grade 5 classes focussed on papayas.  Each grade then takes part in cooking classes that use fruits, vegetables or herbs from the garden that contain the nutrient that they have just learned about. At the end of the program the children take home plants like papaya to put in their yard.