Several secondary school canteen operators from across the island will undergo training to improve their knowledge and skills related to healthy nutrition on Wednesday, July 6.
This is when the National Commission for Chronic Non-communicable Diseases (NCCND) and the National Nutrition Centre of the Ministry of Health host a training workshop at the Dining Club, Building No.11, Newton Industrial Park, Christ Church.
The session, which will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., is expected to place emphasis on procedures contained in the document: Nutritious and Healthy Foods in Schools: Nutritional and Practical Guidelines for Barbados.
Its key objectives are: to improve knowledge on healthy nutrition, for example, salt and fat reduction in the diet; to enhance cooking techniques of operators in accordance with the guidelines; and to foster relations between and among canteen operators, nutritionists and home economic teachers. The standardisation of approaches to food preparation in secondary schools will also be high on the agenda.
It is expected that at the end of the workshop, the operators will be better able to prepare foods which will make a positive contribution to the nutritional needs of children and young people.
The overview on the nutrition guidelines will be presented by Assistant Nutrition Officer with the National Nutrition Centre, Beverley Standford. Discussion will also centre on Children and Chronic Diseases by Dr. Leslie Rollock, Senior Medical Officer of Health (CNCDs, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, NULL, NULL, 0); and there will be a healthy cooking demonstration/practical session by Chef Peter Edey.
Canteen operators will be joined by a diverse group of participants on the training. They include workers of the School Meals Services Department, Community Nutrition Officers and Nutrition Aides from the National Nutrition Centre, and Junior Duelling Chefs as well as Principals and Home Economics teachers from secondary schools.
Representatives of the National Commission for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development will also be in attendance.
Chairman of the NCCND, Professor Trevor Hassell; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joy St. John; and Chief Education Officer (Ag.), Laurie King, will address the start of the training at 9:30 a.m.