When serving food most people tend to focus more on the meat proteins leaving aside vegetables.

However, what many people do not know is that the green vegetables which they do not want to include in their diets offers more nutritional value to their health than the meat and snacks they prefer.

Nutrition experts have recommended that your plate needs to have at least half of the space occupied by the leafy green vegetables to guarantee you the required nutrition.

Mr Boniface Musembi a nutrition expert from the Global Alliance for Improve Nutrition noted that the country is grappling with malnutrition because communities have shied away from consuming the vegetables.

The vegetables according to him, have a variety of nutritional benefits including vitamins A and C, fibre, folate, and potassium. Vegetables provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of the body.

For instance, consumption of green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, are good sources of magnesium which is important in preventing pre term labour and other pregnancy complications in expectant mothers.

Having fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts in your diet can also help lower the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases.

A report conducted by the African Union in 2019 on the Cost of hunger revealed that Kenya is losing about Sh 373 billion every year as a result of malnutrition.

Another report by the Kenya Demographics Health survey showed that Kenya stands at malnutrition rates of 18 percent. Nakuru County stands at 18.5 percent. These include cases of under nutrition, over nutrition and nutrition deficiency.

Mr Musembi attributed the high rate of malnutrition to poor diets which he said lack important vegetables.

In a bid to address the challenge Gain is running the project that seeks to increase consumption of vegetables by residents in the county.

The five year initiative called Vegetables for All Project which is being implemented by GAIN with support from the government of Netherlands through the ministry of foreign affairs will be rolled out in five counties including Nakuru, Nairobi, Machakos, Mombasa and Kiambu.

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Nakuru's malnutrition rate and how vegetables can help

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Joseph Openda