In order to boost the awareness of the students about the importance of vegetables, their

nutrients, their vitamins, and the effect of healthy living, to improve nutrition in schools, and to
establish a school garden to serve as a main source of food to sustain supplementary feeding,
Zaragoza National High School implements the Gulayan sa Paaralan.

Gulayan sa paaralan is an activity that aims to raise public consciousness on health and
nutrition by planting vegetables in available spaces in school. It also seeks to supplement the
food given to the students in the school feeding program. It helps the school to generate income
and improve the food diversity to combat micronutrient deficiencies among the students and
improve overall food security. This is really important because malnutrition among students can
lead to stunted mental and physical growth, poor comprehension and low performace in school.
The implementaion of Gulayan sa Paaralan also imptoves the knowledge and learning of the
students not only on their healthier lifestyle but of course in the application of innovative
vegetable gardening for the cleaner and greener environment.

The production of fruits and vegetables really helped the school feeding program to make the
students healthier, more attentive, and perform better in school. The attendance rate also
increased while the drop-out rate decreased. The students were also encouraged to plant green
leafy vegetables not only in school but also at home as part of sharing of consumption of
vegetables for a healthier lifestyle.