Teaching Kids to Embrace Vegetables: A New Nutrition Storybook by Coach Jeaneth Aro
- Coach Jeaneth Aro
- Dis 1, 2025
- 4 (na) min nang nabasa
Over 150 enthusiastic grade schoolers filled The HUB at Diliman Preparatory School on November 27, 2025, as renowned sports nutritionist and DPS alumna Coach Jeaneth Aro, launched her latest children’s book, "Nanay! Bakit Hindi Ako Maka-Poop?", a hilarious yet heartwarming story that delivers a powerful message about healthy eating, one veggie at a time.
The self-published book tells the story of Nonoy, a young boy with big dreams of becoming a Taekwondo champion like his dad—but who runs into a serious obstacle: he doesn’t like to eat vegetables and ends up constipated. Packed with action, humor, and bathroom drama, the story tackles how nutrition impacts not just sports performance, but everyday wellness. It’s a relatable tale that should resonate with many kids and parents who deal with the daily challenge of eating vegetables.
Illustrated by Juno Abreu, this book marks the second collaboration between him and Coach Jeaneth. Their creative duo brings to life a theme that’s both educational and humorous—making health topics digestible for young readers.
Coach Jeaneth, a Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian, is best known for fueling the medal-winning performances of Filipino athletes at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics. This is her second book under her “Mga Kuwentong Nutrisyon ni Coach Jeaneth Aro” children’s book series designed to educate both kids and parents on the importance of nutrition in a fun, relatable way.
“Good nutrition practices really start at home,” shared Coach Jeaneth after her book reading session. “Reading to our children is a chance to bond, but also to empower them with knowledge that they’ll carry with them for life. This initiative also serves as my legacy project—making available tools that will make it easier for parents to communicate to their kids the benefits of taking care of our health and what happens when we don’t. It’s about turning everyday conversations into powerful life lessons.”
One of the highlights of the event was a nutrition-themed True or False game, sponsored by mWell. The interactive quiz tested the kids' knowledge on health and nutrition in a fun, high-energy format. Winners didn’t just walk away smarter— they also scored mWell Prodigy Smart Watches, adding extra excitement and motivation to the educational experience.
A key force behind the project’s success is the MVP Sports Foundation, whose support has been instrumental in bringing Coach Jeaneth’s legacy project to life; especially for kids at the grassroots level.
“We believe that teaching children about proper nutrition is as important as developing their athletic skills,” said Mr. Paolo Trillo, Executive Director of MVP Sports Foundation. “Coach Jeaneth’s storybooks are a brilliant tool in making these lessons engaging and age-appropriate. Through her story books, we’re not only nurturing future athletes—we're helping raise a generation that understands the value of wellness, nutrition, and self-care in everyday life.”
In his introductory speech, Coach Nap Dagdagan Jr., DPS Head Taekwondo Coach, reflected on Jeaneth’s early days: “She was the kind of athlete who didn’t just train hard…she listened, she learned, and she always aimed to uplift the people around her. Today, she continues to do exactly that, but on an even greater scale. Jeaneth is the creator and author of the book we are launching today: A light-hearted title, yes…but its message is rooted in something deeper: her passion for educating families, helping children develop healthy habits, and making wellness an accessible and enjoyable part of everyday life.”
Prof. Marie Emma Dela Cruz, the school’s principal, echoed the praise in her welcome remarks: “Jeaneth has given us a tool that is both educational and comforting, helping young readers understand their bodies in a simple, relatable, and empowering way. Her passion for nutrition, health, and Filipino families truly shines through. May her book spark conversations at home, in classrooms, and within our hearts—and encourage every child to understand that taking care of oneself is both important and empowering..”
The launch also featured inspiring words from athletes that Jeaneth currently handles, including 2-time Olympian Elreen Ando and Asian Junior Weightlifting Champion Rosegie Ramos, as well as TNT Tropang 5G basketball players Calvin Oftana, John Paul Erram, and Roger Ray Pogoy—who shared stories of how proper nutrition and discipline helped them achieve success in their careers.
With "Nanay! Bakit Hindi Ako Maka-Poop?", Coach Jeaneth proves that even the toughest topics like digestive health can be tackled with humor and heart.
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