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The National Nutrition Centre will be staging a number of events to mark Nutrition Week, from May 26 to June 1, under the theme: Eating Less-Plan, Produce, Prepare.
According to Nutrition Officer, Dianne Broome, the theme was chosen in response to concerns voiced by the public about the challenges faced in maintaining a healthy diet due to the high cost of food, especially fruits and vegetables.
She added: "Our efforts therefore, seek to address these concerns presenting options for making healthy eating more affordable with the intention of increasing food availability."
A church service will be take place at the New Testament Church of God, River Road, St. Michael, on Sunday, May 26, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The next day, Monday, May 27, will see Nutrition Officers making a presentation on the topic: Healthy Eating At a Low Cost to students of the St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic School, Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Minister of Health, John Boyce, will be the featured speaker at an opening ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, at the Vashti Inniss Empowerment Centre, Ladymeade Gardens, St. Michael, at 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by a Food and Nutrition Fair at the Nutrition Centre’s car park, Ladymeade Gardens, from 11:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Exhibitors at the fair will include the National Nutrition Centre, National Non-Communicable Disease Commission, Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Unit, the Welfare Department, the HIV/AIDS Food Bank, the Salvation Army, a plant nursery and International Career School. In addition, a variety of presentations and demonstrations will take place on Eating for Less, Label Reading, and Home Hydroponics. Several samples of healthy foods will be distributed during the course of the event.
On Thursday, May 30, Nutrition Officers will distribute food labels at Supercentre supermarket at Warrens, St. Michael, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Activities for the week will culminate on Friday, May 31, with presentations at the Maurice Byer Polyclinic, Station Hill, St. Peter, on How to Prepare Low-cost Foods, from 9:00 until 9:30 a.m.
Nutrition Week is designed to promote healthy eating in schools; understanding of the Food-Based Dietary Guidelines; and to sensitise the Barbadian public about ways to make healthy food choices during challenging economic times.