The month of March was internationally and locally observed as National Nutrition Month. The theme for this year’s observation was “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle.”
Nutrition in Demand, a local non profit aimed at raising awareness to health and healthy eating, hosted a number of activities to mark the month long celebration.
Registered Dietitian and director of the non-profit, Mrs. Tamika Handfield said, “March is not the only time we bring awareness to the importance of nutrition, but this is a time when health professionals around the world put the spotlight on nutrition.” Mrs. Handfield added, “This year’s theme encourages you to consume fewer calories, read food labels and get daily exercise; all of which leads to a healthier lifestyle.”
As part of the month’s celebration, Nutrition in Demand held Nutrition education and culinary classes with various schools including: B.E.S.T Institute in Providenciales, Doris Robinson Primary in Middle Caicos and Adelaide Oemler Primary school in North Caicos. Children learnt about the importance of eating a healthy breakfast and the foods they should be choosing for breakfast. To reinforce the teaching points, the students were also involved in a cooking activity. They made 100% whole wheat and, with supervision, were responsible for all the cooking steps involved—measuring, mixing, cracking eggs and cooking the pancakes. Using fruits, the children were asked to create faces on their pancakes. Mrs. Handfield said, “This was done as a way to show the children that eating healthy can be fun.”
A student from Adelaide Omeler had this to say about their school visit, “It was a fun and educational day! We learned about healthy breakfast foods. Now, when my mom goes to the store, I will tell her to buy whole wheat flour because it actually tastes better than the regular flour.”
Nutrition in Demand also collaborated with Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Beaches Resorts to bring a healthy eating seminar to the students of the Enid Capron Primary School in Five Cays. Hundreds of children at the school received whole grain cereal, low fat milk and fruit as part of the Big Breakfast initiative of the Sandals Foundation.
In addition to all of this, a Public Service Announcement (PSA) was produced for television and radio to further bring awareness to the month long celebration. A workshop for the Fillipino community had to be reschedule for a later date.
