A Community We Support: Las Cañas
Background
The Feed the Hungry kitchen in Las Cañas has been in operation since 2004. During school year 2023-2024, we are serving hot, nutritious meals to 65 students at the Francisco Villa primaria (elementary) school.
Location Statistics
The community is 15 kilometers from central San Miguel de Allende. The latest census (2020) reported that the population of the community was 558 men, women, and children, residing in 166 households. At that time, 34% were children age 14 or younger. The average school achievement for adults was 6 years; 13% of the adult population were illiterate. Only 40% of the adult population was employed.
Nutrition Report – School Year 2022-2023
For the latest Nutrition Report, staff nutritionists assessed students in primaria through height, weight, and body fat measurements.
Although the number of underweight children in the community of Las Cañas was low, we must continue to help them reach optimal growth and development. Consequences of low weight were presented, such as depigmentation in the skin, pronounced dark undereye circles, and poor oral hygiene causing dental caries and pulp necrosis.
Some of the children take the school meals but do not eat the vegetables because they are not accustomed to eating them at home. We continue to develop menus that taste so good that they even eat the “hidden” vegetables. Workshops are offered to mothers to encourage healthy eating habits at home and discourage allowing children to snack on ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages.
Health Assessment Results 2022-2023
| Condition | Number of Children |
|---|---|
| Obese | 3 |
| Overweight | 5 |
| At risk of overweight | 12 |
| Normal | 55 |
| Light underweight | 3 |
| Moderate underweight | 0 |
| Severe underweight | 1 |
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